Formula 1 has moved to calm uncertainty over the end of the 2026 season, with CEO Stefano Domenicali confirming that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain the planned finale despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The update came just minutes before qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang and included a clear acknowledgment that contingencies remain in place.
Imola continues to stand ready as the official Plan B should the necessary security assurances fail to materialise.
### DOMENICALI DRAWS A LINE ON THE SEASON FINALE
Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Domenicali stated that the direction of travel is to complete the championship as originally scheduled in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “That is the direction we have chosen, based on the information we have,” he said. “And subject, of course, to the necessary assurances which are absolutely essential. This is the strategy we intend to follow through to the end of the year.”
The comments provide the clearest public signal yet that Formula 1 intends to honour its contracts in the region, provided safety conditions are met. Abu Dhabi has hosted the season-ending race in all but one year since joining the calendar in 2009, while Qatar has become a regular fixture since 2021.
### HOW THE CALENDAR HAS ALREADY BEEN DISRUPTED
The 2026 season has already felt the impact of regional instability. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled and the original Bahrain race was relocated to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit, although it retains the Bahrain Grand Prix title. Those changes forced teams and the commercial rights holder into rapid logistical adjustments earlier in the year.
With the final two rounds still pencilled in for the Middle East, the paddock has been waiting for definitive clarity. Domenicali’s intervention was therefore carefully timed to reduce speculation heading into the closing stages of the campaign.
### IMOLA REMAINS THE READY ALTERNATIVE
While the primary plan is unchanged, Formula 1 has not discarded its fallback option. According to reporting from the paddock, Imola continues to prepare for the possibility of hosting a late-season race if Qatar or Abu Dhabi cannot proceed. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu noted that the Italian circuit is “getting ready in case we have to do it there,” while expressing hope that the original schedule can still be delivered.
Audi’s Mattia Binotto had earlier indicated that teams expected firmer information by mid-October. Domenicali’s remarks suggest the organisation is now confident enough in the intelligence and assurances it has received to publicly reaffirm the existing calendar.
### DRIVER CONCERNS HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED
Not every voice in the paddock is comfortable with the plan. Max Verstappen stated after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that Formula 1 should avoid racing in the region while conflict continues nearby. “When there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go,” the four-time world champion said. “Then, it doesn’t matter if you have a contract or not.”
His comments reflect a broader tension between commercial commitments, sporting continuity and the duty of care owed to personnel. Domenicali’s emphasis on “necessary assurances” appears designed to address exactly those concerns.
### WHY CALENDAR CERTAINTY MATTERS NOW
At this stage of the season every point carries extra weight. Teams need to plan freight, hospitality, staffing and simulator work with confidence. Drivers want to know where the championship will be decided. A late switch to Imola would create significant logistical strain and could also revive secondary issues, including the unresolved Italian tax questions that several drivers have already described as frustrating.
By stating that Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain the intended finale, Formula 1 is attempting to provide stability while still leaving itself room to pivot if the security situation deteriorates.
### THE ROAD TO THE END OF 2026
Domenicali’s intervention does not eliminate all risk. Geopolitical conditions can change quickly, and the “subject to assurances” caveat is an explicit recognition of that reality. For the moment, however, the championship has a stated destination.
The Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang will proceed this weekend. Beyond that, Formula 1’s leadership has chosen to project confidence in its Middle East finale while quietly ensuring that Imola remains prepared. In a season already shaped by external disruption, that combination of public certainty and private contingency may be the most realistic approach available.
