Stefano Domenicali, the president of motor racing’s elite Formula 1 (F1) series, has said that the circuit may abandon its season-ending races in the Middle East if the conflict in the region between the US and Iran, which has spilled over across the Persian Gulf, continues.
Domenicali said that while the scheduled season-ending races in Lusail, Qatar (November 29) and Abu Dhabi, UAE (December 6) are currently still in F1’s plans for the moment, a decision will be made in mid-September, taking into account the state of the conflict, over whether or not to cancel those plans.
“That moment will not be before the middle of September. For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed,” Domenicali commented.
“With regards to the end of the season, we are in touch with all the other championships, the way that we are structured is that we will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop, and we will take the decision at the right time.”
Earlier races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled back in April, and this week F1 announced that Malaysia will step in to replace Bahrain on the 2026 calendar, now taking place on the weekend of October 2 to 4.
The same may happen to the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, which could be relocated to a new venue in Europe, with Domenicali having ruled out another US race, particularly due to competition from the NFL American football competition.
Domenicali nonetheless is determined not to allow the November 21 Las Vegas Grand Prix to be the last race on the 2026 calendar.
The Italian said: “If this will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go in other places.
“There was a possibility of having two races in Las Vegas, but we don't want to ruin, let me put it this way, a jewel that is growing by undervaluing what we are doing there.
"And of course, we don't have to forget that in that period of the year, we are fighting in the US against the NFL.”
Italy’s Imola circuit has been cited as a potential host, while Portugal and Turkey, which are scheduled to return to the F1 calendar in 2027, are also in the mix.
