Formula 1 will decide in September whether to hold the season’s final two Grand Prix races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, acknowledging the possibility of ending the championship in Europe instead, due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The announcement was made today by president and CEO Stefano Domenicali during a press conference.
“We will make a decision at the appropriate time, not before mid-September. If the situation doesn’t become clearer, we’ll make a decision. And I just want to confirm that, if this proves impossible, the end of the season will take place in Europe, because we can’t go anywhere else,” if conditions don’t allow travel to the Persian Gulf, Domenicali said.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, originally scheduled for April, were canceled in March without replacement, and uncertainty remains over the Qatar and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) races, as fresh attacks occurred again today across the Middle East.
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“There are several options on the table, but I don’t think it’s right to make promises or anticipate a decision. So, if the situation doesn’t allow us to go to the Middle East, we’ll finish the championship in Europe,” he reiterated.
Paddock chatter had floated the possibility of an extra race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, or a second Las Vegas Grand Prix the week following the one already scheduled for November 21, but Domenicali firmly ruled out that option.
“We will not hold another race in the United States,” he stated, stressing that he doesn’t want to undermine the growth of the Las Vegas race, which debuted in 2023.
Although Domenicali didn’t offer specifics, Italy’s Imola circuit, dropped from this year’s calendar, appears to be the frontrunner to host the season’s final round. Portimão and Istanbul, both set to return to the championship in 2027, are currently undergoing renovation work and aren’t an immediate option.
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Instability in the Persian Gulf region has already forced other competitions to adjust their plans. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) announced Monday that it had replaced its final rounds in Qatar and Bahrain with races in Barcelona, Spain, and Monza, Italy. MotoGP’s Qatar Grand Prix, rescheduled for November, also remains at risk, as does the Saudi Arabia Rally, the WRC’s final event, planned for Jeddah that same month, with neither situation yet resolved.
