F1 delays Qatar and Abu Dhabi decision as Imola emerges as finale option
Formula 1 keeps final races under review
Formula 1 has found a solution for the cancelled 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix by moving the event to Malaysia. The decision addresses one immediate consequence of the continuing instability in the Middle East, but the championship still faces a more significant calendar question: whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can safely host the final two rounds after Las Vegas.
The Sepang replacement for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix has already been confirmed. Qatar and Abu Dhabi, however, remain scheduled fixtures for now, despite the fact that the World Endurance Championship has cancelled its late-October and early-November races in Qatar and Bahrain and will instead complete its season in Europe.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the sport would wait until at least the middle of September before making a final decision. He stressed that the two races are currently confirmed and sold out, but acknowledged that Formula 1 would act if the situation had not become sufficiently clear by then.
“If the situation will not allow for us to be there [in the Middle East], we're going to finish the championship in Europe,” Domenicali told selected media. He also ruled out adding another event in the United States.
Why North America is not the fallback
A second race at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas and a Las Vegas double-header have reportedly been considered. Both options would offer obvious logistical advantages, but the timing is problematic. The week after the 21 November Las Vegas Grand Prix coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday, when major NFL fixtures would compete for attention.
Domenicali also indicated that Formula 1 does not want to dilute the Las Vegas event while it continues to develop its balance between VIP hospitality and general admission. The race’s first edition in 2023 faced disputes with local stakeholders, and Liberty Media recently agreed a $3 million settlement over a class-action lawsuit brought by spectators removed from viewing areas before a delayed practice session.
Imola the leading European candidate
If Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cancelled, Imola currently appears the most likely replacement. Turkey and Portugal would theoretically offer better weather, but both circuits are undergoing work intended to bring them up to the standards required to join the calendar next year.
Domenicali argued that early December temperatures in Europe can be comparable to, or less cold than, Las Vegas during its race weekend. The risk of snow remains, but F1 believes a European finale is feasible within the existing timeframe. For now, the championship’s closing sequence remains provisional—and the decision deadline is clear.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.