FIA postpones WEC Qatar 1812km as Formula 1 monitors Gulf situation

The first round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC], set to be held in Qatar at the end of March, has been postponed.

One of several top-level motorsport events set to take place in the Middle East in the coming weeks is set to be rescheduled.

FIA World Endurance Championship Qatar 1812km postponed

Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

The opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Qatar 1812km, has been postponed indefinitely.

The event had been scheduled to take place at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar between March 26 and 28.

However, the FIA has now confirmed that the event will take place on another date, with the safety and security of all competitors, personnel, and fans being of “utmost importance”.

The decision comes following days of military conflict and geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, which has seen Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates hit by missile strikes from Iran.

“FIA WEC management has been in constant dialogue with the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) in light of the current and evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East,” read a statement from the governing body.

“With the safety and security of competitors, personnel and fans of the utmost importance, the decision has been taken to delay the event that had been due to take place on 26-28 March.

“Following further discussions with our colleagues at Lusail International Circuit (LIC), where the race is held, a new date for the Qatar 1812km during the second half of the campaign will be finalised and communicated in due course.

“The first round of the season will consequently now be the 6 Hours of Imola in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy on 17-19 April.”

On Monday, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem issued a statement addressing the conflict, saying, “Safety and well-being will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One World Championship.”

Following the postponement, Ben Sulayem said, “The safety and well-being of our community will always be the FIA’s first priority, and I thank our Member Club, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, Lusail International Circuit, the ACO and our championship colleagues for the measured and collaborative approach that has led to this decision.

“As the opening event of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Qatar 1812km holds a special place for many fans, drivers and teams alike, and we will work closely with all involved to reschedule the race for later in the 2026 season.

“The FIA continues to monitor developments across the region and our thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events as we hope for calm, safety and a return to stability.”

More on F1 and the current Middle East tensions

Australian Grand Prix to go ahead as CEO addresses Middle East travel fears

F1 and FIA closely monitor Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix amid Middle East conflict

Frederic Lequien, CEO of the WEC, confirmed the intent is to stage the race in the second half of 2026.

“The Qatar 1812km is an integral part of the FIA WEC calendar, and I offer my sincere thanks to Lusail International Circuit and the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation for their close collaboration,” he said.

“We have all been working hand-in-hand since Saturday morning to find the best solution for staging the event, and while we still need a few more days to finalise the exact revised date, I can confirm it will be during the second half of the 2026 season. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.”

The Qatar 1812km was one of three high-profile FIA-sanctioned races scheduled in the region over the coming weeks, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for April 12 and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on April 19.

F1 and the FIA have both issued statements to confirm they are monitoring the situation in the region, following days of heavily restricted logistics and air travel that, if it continues into the next month, could compromise preparations for the races, whilst safety concerns remain present as Iranian missiles continue to target US military bases in the Gulf region.

Bahrain authorities have confirmed missile attacks remain ongoing, targeting the naval base located in Juffair, a 30-minute drive north of the Bahrain International Circuit, while drone attacks have targeted the motorway bridge connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.

At the time of publishing, both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix remain as scheduled.

Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.

You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!