There has been a lull in the conflict between the USA and Iran in the war in the Middle East which had seen the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain attacked by the IRGC with drones and ballistic missiles. The large-scale military operations which began in February ceased following a ceasefire negotiated by Pakistan in April.
Yet localised skirmishes have continued with Iran sinking two commercial container ships in the last week which had been commissioned by the UAE. Earlier this month the Yemen Houthis, which are terrorist Iranian proxies, launched a hypersonic missile at the Saudi airport in Riyadh, killing 13 people and injuring over 200.
F1 Leadership Confirms the Calendar
Despite all this, the most recent comment from F1’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, confirmed during the rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix hosted in Malaysia that the existing calendar is confirmed. “As we’ve already said, the calendar is confirmed: the last two Grands Prix will be in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. This is the direction we’ve taken based on the information and reassurances we have — and which we absolutely must have, of course. It’s the strategy we’ll apply until the end of the year,” he told assembled media.
Prior to this, Audi F1’s CEO, Mattia Binotto, had revealed in September: “As we discussed during the F1 Commission last Monday, mid-October is the last call for such a decision.” Yet this deadline has broadly come and gone.
Imola Prepares as an Alternative
Reports from Italy state that Imola is preparing to host an F1 race if necessary during the first weekend of December. Temporary grandstands are being erected and the circuit retains its FIA Grade 1 license required to host an F1 weekend.
Driver and Team Perspectives
However, divisions appear to be occurring in the paddock with Max Verstappen suggesting should the racing go ahead in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, he may refuse to attend. “Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go,” he told Viaplay.
However, F2 CEO Bruno Michel today backs F1’s plans for the final two races of the 2026 season to continue in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “For the moment, and I think it’s completely clear, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are on the calendar, and we are going to finish the [F2] championship in Qatar and in Abu Dhabi,” Michel informed assembled media.
“We’re following Formula 1 on that. Formula 1 is completely aware of all the situation and what needs to be done to make sure that we exercise those two races in the best conditions, which will be the case. So we are really looking forward, since we have a fantastic championship to finish with a lot of drivers, three drivers, fighting for the title. We are really looking forward to having those last two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”
F2 last competed during the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku and has just two rounds remaining, both scheduled for Lusail and the Yas Marina Circuit. When pressed on how the F2 championship would be resolved should these races be cancelled, Michel was adamant: “That would be very sad, let’s put it that way, so I don’t think it’s going to happen. Going back and saying, ‘Oh, by the way, the champion has been declared a month ago, but we couldn’t crown him’, would not be very good. So yes, we absolutely want to finish the championship as it is planned.”
Lewis Hamilton has gone on the record stating he wants the season finales to continue as planned. “I personally want to go,” said Hamilton in Baku. “I love going to the Middle East. 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 to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.”
Political Timelines and US Midterms
The reason there has been a lull in the bombings and drone attacks between the USA and Iran is mainly due to the mid-term elections taking place in the United States. Public opinion is broadly against the US operations in the Middle East, and many believe President Donald Trump is biding his time until the vote is closed.
The mid-term elections will take place on Tuesday the 3rd of November, but intelligence reports suggest both sides are actively preparing for potential escalations once the political timeline passes. As the votes are counted in the US, F1 will be heading from Mexico down to Brazil for the final leg of the next triple-header weekend of races.
Championship Math and Security Concerns
The sport faces the bizarre scenario of Kimi Antonelli having failed to clinch the title by the chequered flag in Mexico City, then being announced by press release as the champion before he arrives in Brazil. The cancellation of the final two races and having Imola as its replacement would mean that there are 25 points less on offer, so the maths on the point the young Mercedes driver wins his maiden F1 title changes.
Given the recent attack on the Saudi airport and the deaths of innocent civilians, F1 surely cannot countenance racing in the Middle East this year. For the 2026 season finale, Arabian Business publication reported there were 231,000 international visitors in Abu Dhabi for the weekend.
With spectators packed into grandstands around the Yas Marina circuit, the target for those wishing to humiliate the West is far too large and easy to hit for F1 to surely consider holding the events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Why F1 is waiting it out with just six weeks before the F1 circus arrives in Qatar is anyone’s guess. But surely common sense will prevail and, having dropped off the F1 calendar last season, Imola will have yet another reprieve.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
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Stefano Domenicali Is a complete puppet and a moron.
He will do what Liberty says regardless of risk or common sense
I just love that Max be like “nah”
At this rate, the Middle East rounds will be cancelled at the last minute, i.e., either while in Las Vegas or Qatar, in which case a substitute Imola round could only take place without spectators & team motorhomes to mimimize organisational & logistical task, particularly if preliminary preparation will have been stopped by that point due to the continued insistency to finish the season as planned.