- The WEC has officially postponed its season opener in Qatar to the second half of the year
- Ezpeleta considers staging on April 12 unlikely but does not rule it out
- A replacement race at another venue has been categorically ruled out
While the MotoGP 2026 season opened last weekend in Buriram with the Thailand GP, the entire motorsport world is occupied with a far more serious issue. The Israeli-American strikes on Iran on Saturday and the subsequent retaliatory attacks on surrounding states have drastically escalated the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Beyond the devastating impact on the affected region, the military escalation also has massive consequences for international air traffic. Qatari airspace was closed last Monday, and Qatar Airways had to cease operations at its hub in Doha. The air traffic centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also affected.
WEC Makes the First Move and Postpones Qatar Race
The first direct consequence for motorsport did not take long to materialize. The FIA World Endurance Championship WEC has officially postponed its season opener originally scheduled for March 26-28 at the Losail International Circuit. The 1812 km race is now set to be rescheduled to the second half of 2026. Instead, Imola with the April 17-19 date becomes the new season opener of the sports car World Championship.
WEC boss Frédéric Lequien explained that they had been working closely with the Lusail International Circuit and the Qatari motorsport federation since Saturday morning to find the best solution. Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, emphasized: “First and foremost, I want to stress that our thoughts are primarily with the victims of this terrible conflict. In times like these, sporting interests clearly take a back seat.”
Whether and where the official WEC pre-season test, the so-called Prologue, will take place is also still unclear.
Ezpeleta: Staging of Qatar GP Unlikely
Just two weeks after the WEC date, MotoGP is scheduled to race at the Losail International Circuit. The Grand Prix of Qatar is set as the fourth round of the 2026 season for April 10-12. But there is now considerable uncertainty here as well. MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta publicly acknowledged for the first time at a press conference of the Spanish beer producer Estrella Galicia on Wednesday in Madrid that the staging is in question.
“We have to wait. I cannot say at the moment that we will not race,” the 78-year-old explained. They have been in contact with the officials in Qatar since Sunday and will make a decision. At the same time, Ezpeleta also made clear: “It is difficult for us to go to Qatar on April 12, but I cannot say that we will not race.”
Without stable air traffic in the region, running a major event like MotoGP is simply not possible. Already on the return journey from the season opener in Thailand, numerous paddock members had to switch to alternative flight routes at short notice due to airspace closures over Iran.
No Replacement Race, but Possible Rescheduling
Ezpeleta categorically ruled out moving to a different circuit. There had been reports that in the event of a cancellation, a replacement Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina might be feasible, since MotoGP would already be on the American continent in the weeks prior with Brazil (March 20-22 in Goiania) and the US GP in Austin (March 27-29). But the MotoGP boss gave a clear rejection: “Go to another place? Absolutely not.”
What remains conceivable for Ezpeleta is only a rescheduling of the Qatar GP to a later date in the current year. Finding a suitable slot in the packed racing calendar with 22 events, however, is likely to be anything but easy. After the Aragon GP in late August, four consecutive double-headers await until the season finale in Valencia. The only theoretically feasible time window would be around the British GP in early August. However, average temperatures in Qatar in August reach 43 degrees Celsius during the day and 32-34 degrees at night, which would make racing virtually impossible.
Ezpeleta remained optimistic in this regard: “We are very good at making calendars. We will know more soon. We are waiting for them to tell us something. There is still time.”
Marquez: Grand Prix Becomes Secondary in Such Events
Thoughtful tones came from the paddock. Marc Marquez, who was present at the same press conference, assessed the situation soberly. Nothing concrete had been discussed yet, but when such things happen in the world, the staging of a Grand Prix becomes secondary.
The event in Doha holds enormous significance for the Qatari state. MotoGP has been a guest at the Losail International Circuit since 2004, and the races under floodlights are among the special highlights on the calendar. With the exception of the 2020 MotoGP race, which fell victim to the Corona pandemic, the event has taken place without interruption. Qatar has been extensively subsidizing the event for years through several state entities, which suggests that the local officials will delay a cancellation as long as possible.
Formula 1 Also Affected by Uncertainty
MotoGP is not the only series suffering from the consequences of the Middle East conflict. In Formula 1, question marks also hang over the Grands Prix in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19). Reports are circulating that Imola and Portimao could be considered as potential replacement venues. The later F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in November and December are less affected by the current situation. Formula 1 stated that they are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East.
Before the Qatar GP, MotoGP first has the rounds in Brazil (Goiania, March 20-22) and Austin (March 27-29) on the schedule. By then, it should become clear whether the desert GP on April 12 can actually take place or whether it will fall victim to the Middle East conflict.
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