&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Hamilton wants to race in Middle East despite not knowing 'what risk levels are'")
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion who races for Ferrari, has expressed interest in racing in the Middle East towards the end of the season. The US-Israel-Iran war has cast doubt over several races of the 2026 F1 season due to adverse conditions. F1 is expected to deliver at least 23 races in a season. Earlier, the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Grands Prix were canceled, with the latter being relocated to the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia for the first weekend of next month (October 3–4, 2026).
Hamilton wants to race in the Middle East
"I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East," Hamilton said while speaking to reporters ahead of the upcoming race weekend in Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran. "From what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don’t have all the information and I don’t know what the risk levels are. I trust in Stefano [Domenicali, F1’s chief executive] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there."
Also Read - 'India benchmark for all Pakistani teams,' says head coach Mike Hesson ahead of Asian Games
F1 is going ahead with the previously planned schedule, with the Qatar (November 29) and Abu Dhabi (December 6) Grand Prix towards the end of the season, with Imola in Italy as a backup for the final round.
Formula 1 2026 drivers' standings
Trending Stories
)
US judge questions Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House
)
Elephants hide behind trees, stage surprise attack on poachers targeting rhinos in South Africa
)
Hours before Xi-Trump meeting, US announces visa curbs targeting birth tourism: What is it?
)
IIT Bombay CCTV footage emerges: Sahil Wakode seen looking at phone in examination hall
)
NBA player Steven Adams shares hilarious GTA VI theory
)
Open AI, Anthropic CEO urges caution over rapid AI development at UN Security Council, call for 'extreme care'
)
WATCH | China President Xi Jinping lands in US as Trump greets him ahead of high-stakes summit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Film Awards 2026: Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty, Yami Gautam, Randeep Hooda and other key winners
)
El Niño 2026 heats up to become strongest in 1,000 years
)
Xi-Trump meeting: China’s human rights red line and past protests explained
)
'What kind of confession is this?': Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s 'terrorists would be roaming New York' remark goes viral, raises alarm online. Watch
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit: 'Hanuman Ansh' Director on blockbuster success
)
China to test supersonic jet that moves at Mach 2, double the speed of sound
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit: How local tourism MSMEs must upskill for AI integration
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Trump welcomes Xi Jinping in rare airport gesture: Photos from Chinese President's arrival in US
)
Trump-Xi Summit: Trade, Taiwan and the red lines shaping US-China talks | Race To Power
)
ICC plans T20I expansion and fewer ODIs in 2027–2031 FTP cycle: Report
)
Govt slashes duty on edible oils to curb price rise ahead of festive season
)
Cyclone Arnab: Landfall expected before midnight tomorrow as IMD issues orange alerts across six states
)
Australian PM Anthony Albanese calls OpenAI AI incident 'unacceptable' after restricted data access
)
Israeli envoy to US Yechiel Leiter’s son critically injured in West Bank ramming attack
)
'AI got into my speech': Prince Harry jokes after teleprompter failure at event in New York
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026: Union Minister Shekhawat on 'experiential travel', peace diplomacy
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026: Key voices to discuss India’s tourism future
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit: Seychelles envoy says India partnership is important for Seychelles
)
Pilot recreates Mona Lisa in sky over Oklahoma and Arkansas in four-hour flight: VIDEO
)
'Putin is patient zero': Zelensky slams Russian president at UNGA, accuses him of using fighters from 47 countries
)
Scientists detect first radio signals directly from faraway planet
)
'Partners rather than rivals': Xi Jinping's first message after landing in US for Trump summit
)
US citizen injured in Illinois after ICE agents mistook him for fugitive, hospitalised
)
Trump-Xi state dinner 2026: Who is invited? Full guest list of tech CEOs, business leaders and officials
)
Trump signs Greenland security deal with Denmark, paving way for two new US military bases
)
American manufacturing is reshoring faster than its factory floors can absorb
)
WION Iconic Tourism Summit: Is India's travel boom outrunning its airports, airlines and hotels?
)
Bomb scare in New York amid UNGA: Suspicious suitcase found near UN headquarters
)
Afghan woman cyclist who disguised herself as a boy to escape Taliban, wins Asian Games medal
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (September 21-27, 2026): Shaque: Trust No One, Hunkkaar, Don’t Be Shy- 5 new titles coming to Netflix, Prime Video and more
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli currently leads the drivers' standings with 292 points, and his teammate George Russell is second with 211 points. Hamilton is third with 191 points and has too large of a gap to overcome to claim a record eighth championship.
Defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren is fourth with 186 points, with Hamilton's Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc sitting in fifth place with 167 points. Four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing is sixth with 145 points.
