Formula 2 chief backs Qatar and Abu Dhabi season finale
Formula 2 chief executive Bruno Michel expects the championship to finish its season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, following Formula 1’s planned final two rounds despite ongoing uncertainty over travel to the Middle East.
Michel said F2 was aligned with F1’s current plans and anticipated both events going ahead. The regional situation remains unsettled, however, and further calendar changes have not been ruled out as F1 approaches its expected decision point in mid-October. F1’s position on the finale is covered in our report on its Qatar and Abu Dhabi plans.
Michel expects F2 to follow F1’s final two rounds
The instability has already affected the calendar: Bahrain’s originally planned April event was moved to October and relocated to Sepang, Malaysia, while the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah was cancelled. F2 did not join the rescheduled Bahrain event, instead adding replacement rounds in Miami and Montreal.
Michel said the two Gulf rounds remained on the calendar and that F2 intended to conclude the championship there. He also pointed to the title fight as a reason to look forward to the finale, with three drivers still in contention.
The risks surrounding the F1 schedule remain part of the wider picture. The source report identifies insecurity in Saudi Arabia, including strikes launched by Yemeni Houthis, as a particular concern. Michel said F2 was following F1’s assessment of the situation and its preparations for running the events safely.
Imola contingency leaves F2’s plans unanswered
A possible Imola round in December, coinciding with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, has been identified as the likeliest contingency for F1 if its plans change. Whether F2 would also race there has not been confirmed.
Michel declined to outline a replacement plan, instead reiterating his expectation that Qatar and Abu Dhabi would go ahead. He said the championship wanted to finish at those venues, in line with F1’s intentions.
F2’s most recent round was in Baku, where the title picture tightened into a three-way contest. Newly announced Haas driver Rafael Camara leads Nikola Tsolov by seven points, while Alex Dunne sits a further 11 points behind Tsolov. For readers following the junior series, our 2026 Formula 2 season guide covers the calendar and championship format.
For now, Michel’s message is clear: F2 is preparing to conclude its campaign in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but a possible alternative remains unresolved if the F1 schedule changes.
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.