Domenicali Confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi Rounds Will Proceed

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has officially confirmed that the 2026 season will conclude as planned in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. This assurance comes amid significant regional instability that has already forced the championship to overhaul its calendar earlier this year to ensure driver and staff safety.

Why it matters:

This confirmation provides critical stability for teams and logistics providers after a volatile season. With the Saudi Arabian GP canceled and the Bahrain GP relocated to Malaysia, F1 is determined to avoid further disruption to its 23-race schedule and maintain the prestige of its traditional season finale.

The big picture:

The current race weekend at Sepang serves as a unique case study in crisis management. Due to conflicts in the Middle East, the Bahrain Grand Prix was relocated to Malaysia through a diplomatic agreement between the two governments, allowing F1 to return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 while retaining Bahrain's official identity and title sponsorship.

The details:

• Scheduled Timeline: Qatar is slated for November 27-29, followed by the Abu Dhabi season finale from December 4-6.
• Contingency Planning: Despite the confirmation, F1 has developed a comprehensive "Plan B" should the region become unviable.
• European Alternatives: Imola has emerged as the primary backup for a European conclusion, with reports that temporary infrastructure and grandstands are already being organized as a precaution.
• Secondary Options: Portimao and Istanbul have also been considered as alternative venues to ensure the championship completes its designated number of rounds.

What's next:

The championship now enters its final stretch, hoping the current security landscape remains stable. While the "Bahrain-in-Malaysia" experiment proved that F1 can pivot quickly under pressure, the focus remains on executing the scheduled Middle Eastern finale to close out a highly unconventional 2026 season.