F1 President: 2026 season to end in Europe if Middle East races cancelled due to conflict

Image: There remains doubt over whether Abu Dhabi will be able to host the 2026 season finale

The 2026 Formula 1 season will conclude in Europe if the final two scheduled races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi must be relocated due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, F1 President Stefano Domenicali has confirmed.

The sport's bosses were previously forced to cancel April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and announced over the weekend that the Bahrain Grand Prix will now be hosted by Malaysia in October.

Bahrain's inability to host the event in October has raised doubts over whether the final two rounds of the season — in Qatar (Nov 27–29) and Abu Dhabi (Dec 4–6) — will be able to proceed at their planned locations.

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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Domenicali insisted he remains hopeful the calendar will stay as it currently stands, and that F1 will wait until its mid-September deadline before making a decision.

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"With regard to the end of the season, we are in touch with all the other championships," Domenicali said. "And I know that, for example, WEC (World Endurance Championship) has announced that they will not go at the end of the year in the Middle East and they will stay in Europe.

"The way that we are structured is that we will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop, and we will take the decision at the right time. That moment would be not before the middle of September.

"For us, today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. But, of course, if the situation will not be clearer, the way that we believe it should be, before the middle of September, we will take the decision."

Formula 1 2026 Remaining Races

| Netherlands\* | August 21–23 | USA | October 23–25 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Italy | September 4–6 | Mexico | Oct 30–Nov 1 | | Madrid | September 11–13 | Brazil | November 6–8 | | Azerbaijan | September 24–26 | Las Vegas | November 20–22 | | Malaysia | October 2–4 | Qatar | November 27–29 | | Singapore\* | October 9–11 | Abu Dhabi | December 4–6 | | | | \*denotes Sprint weekend | |

Domenicali explained that challenges related to "Brexit-connected documentation" make Europe the only alternative venue for the final two races, but noted there are multiple options within the continent.

"I just want to confirm to you that if this [races in the Middle East] will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go in other places," he said.

"There are some possibilities on the table, but I don't think it's right to make some promises or anticipate certain things, but that's the situation of today.

"Even if I really hope that it will not be the case, if the situation will not allow for us to be there, we're going to finish the championship in Europe."

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Imola 'an option' | Second Las Vegas race was considered

There has been speculation that Italy's historic Imola circuit is the front-runner to host if needed, but Domenicali said the track is "an option, but is not defined" as a would-be replacement venue.

It remains possible that Imola and another venue could act as replacement hosts, with Formula 1 keen to get as close to the originally planned 24-round schedule as possible. As it stands, the calendar has been reduced to 23 races with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix lost.

Racing in Europe in late November or early December would come with the risk of cold weather, but Domenicali pointed out that expected temperatures are actually colder for the Las Vegas race.