Formula 1 to finish season in Middle East

Formula 1 to finish season in Middle East

The 2026 Formula 1 season will conclude with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix as planned, with Italy's Imola circuit stood down as back-up for the races.

Formula 1 has told the Imola circuit in Italy that it will not be required as a back-up for the two end-of-season races in the Middle East.

The sport is pressing ahead with plans to hold the two events in Qatar on 27-29 November and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on 4-6 December, despite the ongoing conflict between the United States/Israel and Iran.

Imola had been asked to prepare for a potential grand prix on the Abu Dhabi dates if the two Middle Eastern races could not go ahead.

Imola was asked on Tuesday to stand down preparations - but F1 says that if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates it is still prepared to cancel the two races.

Earlier in the season, races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, both of which had been scheduled for April, were cancelled and delayed respectively following the outbreak of the United States and Israel's war with Iran.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was eventually held at Malaysia's Sepang circuit in October.

"If the situation develops negatively in the coming weeks before the events in the Middle East, we will not hesitate to do the right thing and the safety of everyone will always be the priority," an F1 spokesperson said on Tuesday.

In brief

Formula 1 has told the Imola circuit in Italy that it will not be required as a back-up for the two end-of-season races in the Middle East. Imola had been asked to prepare for a potential grand prix on the Abu Dhabi dates if the two Middle Eastern races could not go ahead. Imola was asked on Tuesday to stand down preparations - but F1 says that if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates it is still prepared to cancel the two races.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC Sport. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC Sport ↗

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