Formula 1 will proceed with its original plan of finishing the 2026 season in the Middle East, after Imola was stood down as a backup option for the final race.
Ongoing conflict in the region led chiefs to consider alternatives, with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi not fully guaranteed to take place. April’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled when the war broke out, with the Bahrain Grand Prix instead held in Malaysia in September.
However, F1 will head to Qatar as originally planned on November 29 before the season finale in Abu Dhabi takes place a week later on December 6.
According to the Press Association, in a meeting which took place on Tuesday, teams sought detail and assurances around procedures in case any escalation occurs in the coming weeks. Despite MotoGP successfully holding its race in Qatar last weekend, F1 chiefs are prepared to take action should the conflict escalate again in the next few weeks.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem outlined his intention for races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to proceed as planned in an Instagram post this week.
Before F1 heads to the Middle East, however, there is the small matter of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place on the Sunset Strip on November 22.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull Content Pool