Carlos Sainz said "it's very difficult to be convinced" Formula 1 should finish the season in the Middle East as is currently planned.
F1 is currently scheduled to with race in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6. despite ongoing hostilities and tensions in the region.
F1 has held off making a call on whether to go ahead but has a plan to race in Imola on Dec. 6 if it needs to cancel the Middle East leg of events.
Sources have told ESPN teams are preparing to race as normal but there is lingering confusion about the lack of clarity.
On Thursday, Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) chairman Sainz appeared to suggest he felt uneasy about going as things stand.
"On my personal side, I'm not speaking as a GPDA [representative], it's very difficult to be convinced right now, because there are still things happening, plenty of things happening in the Middle East," he said.
"And also there is obviously an election that is going to happen in the U.S. [midterms on Nov. 3], and things that are going to happen in the political side of the world that could affect the next month, month and a half, very suddenly.
"So I think it's relatively premature to be so convinced, but as it stands, we will go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and if the FIA and Formula 1 decide that it's still safe and a good scenario, I think we, as drivers, have to go with whatever they say.
"We don't have as much political information, as much inside information as they have, for sure, so we need to follow their lead and trust in their decision-making, but only as it stands.
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"The world can change a lot in the next month, month and a half, and we need to stay diligent and reactive to whatever happens, and not just go because we want to go right now."
A few hours later, Williams posted a quote from Sainz where he clarified the comments and reiterated his full faith in the sport's decision-makers.
"Following some reporting of my comments in the press conference earlier today about ending the season in the Middle East, I want to be clear that I know the FIA and Formula 1 will put safety first and completely trust them to make the right decision. We look forward to racing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi."