FIA Confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs Remain on 2026 Calendar

The 2026 Formula 1 season is heading toward its conclusion in the Middle East. Despite significant geopolitical volatility and earlier calendar shifts, the FIA has signaled that the final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are set to proceed as planned.

Why it matters:

The Middle East has been a primary source of logistical instability this season. With the Bahraini round relocated to Sepang and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cut entirely, any further cancellations would disrupt the championship finale and signal a broader strategic retreat from the region for Formula 1.

The details:

• Safety Assertions: President Mohammed Ben Sulayem argues that the ground reality differs from media portrayals, citing his own family's presence in the region as evidence that the risk is manageable.
• Heightened Risks: Concerns peaked following a missile strike on an Aramco facility located approximately 160km from the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
• Contingency Planning: Imola remains on standby as the primary backup venue should the Middle Eastern rounds become untenable.
• Operational Redundancy: To mitigate government travel advisories, the FIA has established secondary teams of officials and stewards to ensure race management is not compromised if primary staff are unable to travel.

What's next:

As the calendar moves into the final stretch of October 2026, the focus remains on whether these guarantees hold. While the FIA maintains it is "always ready" to adjust, the stability of the season's climax depends on a volatile political climate that has already forced the sport to rewrite its schedule twice this year.