F1 Qatar and Abu Dhabi races face mid-September call amid war
Formula One says Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar, but Europe could host the season finish if war blocks Middle East races.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Formula One could finish its 2026 season in Europe if the F1 Qatar and Abu Dhabi races cannot go ahead because of the war, Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali said, according to Reuters. The decision matters because the two Gulf rounds are scheduled to close the championship, with Qatar set for November 29 and Abu Dhabi for December 6.
Domenicali said Formula One has set mid-September as the deadline for deciding whether it must change the calendar. For now, he said, both events remain confirmed and have already sold out, Reuters reported.
The schedule has already been affected by the conflict. Reuters reported that races planned for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in April were canceled because of the US-Israel war on Iran, and Malaysia’s Sepang circuit is now set to host the Bahrain round on October 4, with Bahrain covering most of the costs.
What happens if F1 cannot race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
If the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix cannot be staged, Formula One plans to move the end of the season to Europe, Domenicali said. He said F1 could not switch the finale to other regions at that stage of the year.
Italy’s Imola circuit is among the possible substitutes, Domenicali confirmed. Reuters said informed sources have described Imola as a leading option, although late-year weather would be a consideration.
Imola was removed from this year’s Formula One calendar. The circuit also has local significance for Domenicali, who was born there, and for Ferrari as well as Mercedes Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli.
Another motorsport series has already made similar changes. The FIA-sanctioned World Endurance Championship moved its final two rounds from Qatar and Bahrain to Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya and Italy’s Monza for October and November, Reuters reported.
Why not end the season in Las Vegas?
Domenicali said Formula One considered holding two races in Las Vegas to close the season, according to Reuters. He said the series did not want to overuse an event it sees as growing in value, and noted that the NFL regular season would add competition for attention and logistics.
He also pushed back on concerns about cold European weather by comparing it with Las Vegas, where the November Saturday night race can be colder than conditions in Europe, Reuters reported.
What does this mean for the 2027 F1 calendar?
Formula One has not yet released its 2027 calendar. Before the conflict began, Bahrain had been expected to reclaim the season-opening slot from Australia in March, according to Reuters.
Domenicali said F1 expects to publish the 2027 schedule later this year. He said the series has backup plans if the Middle East situation remains unresolved, but added that a final trigger for those plans would come near the end of the year.
Formula One still aims to run 24 grands prix next year, Domenicali said. He also said Portugal and Turkiye will return to the calendar in 2027.
Longer term, Domenicali said talks with potential African hosts are positive, while there is also interest from Asia and South America. He said F1 has received more requests in China and Japan, but wants to keep one Chinese race for now while it builds the market there.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.