Wolff criticises unhappy MotoGP riders: What do they know about geopolitics?

Following Formula 1 can sometimes teach us a great deal about geography or politics. As the F1 circus moves from place to place, it inevitably raises questions about the issues facing each country or region. In this case, fans have, whether they wanted to or not, also learnt something about American politics and the situation in the Middle East.

The fate of the events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi has drawn many of us into the US elections and relations between the Gulf states. Many in Formula 1 are now anxiously waiting to see how the situation in the Middle East develops. Iran is refusing to let the conflict simply be forgotten and continues to attack shipping not only in the Strait of Hormuz, but across the Gulf.

Meanwhile, the mood in the White House has changed dramatically. US President Donald Trump appears to have taken a crushing defeat in the congressional and Senate elections calmly, although in his case that may simply be an act. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in particular, finds himself in an especially difficult position, with the Democrats pursuing him relentlessly over his appalling handling of both the department and the war against Iran. At present, no Republican appears willing to stick their neck out for the unpopular Hegseth.

US forces in the Gulf, meanwhile, are ready to move. In the current circumstances, however, the order may not come. That is precisely what the MotoGP riders will be hoping for, too: they are currently in Qatar and received evacuation procedures and instructions on how to reach a shelter as a welcome gift.

While riders and drivers – in both MotoGP and Formula 1 – have, at the very least, doubts about whether travelling to the Middle East is sensible at present, their bosses are aligned with the sport’s management and promoters. “Stefano [Domenicali] and Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] have been pretty clear about the situation, that Formula 1 follows what the international guidelines are, whether there’s travel restrictions, airlines not flying, any warnings in the region, the kind of feedback that local governments are making,” Wolff said in Brazil.

“So not only the promoters, but what the local governments are making, and this is what you need to rely on in my opinion. And I’m fully with that. I think that if riders stand up, who geopolitically know nothing about what’s going on, but have the audience that listens, I think that is something that creates media value,” said Wolff, playing down the threat.

He therefore supports MotoGP’s decision to travel to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, as well as the position of Liberty Media, which insists the trip to Qatar will go ahead. A final decision must be made by next week at the latest, and with security in the region in the hands not of Liberty Media, the FIA, Wolff or even Qatar, but of the US president and the Iranian regime, the risk of trouble is high.

“But I would have done the same as the MotoGP management has done. You want to ride or drive, go. If you don’t want to, don’t go, as simple as that. And everybody can take their personal decisions on that, and I respect that,” said Wolff.