A ballistic missile strike on Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran has added plenty r of tension in the Gulf, just weeks before Formula 1 is due to race in neighbouring Qatar. On the night of 13 October 2026, Yemen’s Houthi movement launched an attack that hit an administrative building inside Saudi Aramco’s sprawling headquarters complex in Dhahran. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry described it as a limited fire with no injuries or deaths. As per independent media reports it was a ballistic missile that struck an office tower, damaging the top three floors including areas associated with senior executives with fire spreading across several floors before it was brought under control.
Some staff were later asked to work from home, though operations at the wider complex continued. Formula 1 has a connection with this as Dhahran is the same city where Aston Martin unveiled its AMR26 livery earlier in 2026 in a high-profile event tied to title sponsor Aramco. The team’s presence there underscored the deep commercial links between the sport and the Gulf energy sector.
Will Gulf tensions affect the Qatar Grand Prix Schedule?
The 2026 Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for 27–29 November at the Lusail International Circuit. Practice will start on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and the race itself on Sunday, 29 November. Formula 1 has raced in Qatar since 2021 and holds a long-term deal for the event. The sport has navigated regional security issues before, but the combination of cancelled or relocated earlier Gulf races in 2026, airport disruptions in Saudi Arabia, and open threats against energy and aviation targets has inevitably raised questions about contingency planning.
Organisers and teams will be monitoring the situation closely in the coming weeks. Qatar has publicly condemned the attacks on Saudi targets and stressed regional solidarity, while its own airspace has remained open. As November approaches, the F1 community will watch both the sporting form and the security briefings. The Lusail race remains on the calendar for 27–29 November 2026. Whether the weekend goes ahead without disruption will depend on how the situation in the wider region evolves over the next six weeks.
