The 2026 Formula One calendar could see its finale shift back to Europe should the concluding rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi become untenable because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, F1 chief Stefano Domenico confirmed on Wednesday. The series' leadership has already been forced to cancel the early‑season races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and over the weekend they announced that the Bahrain Grand Prix will be moved to Malaysia in October as a replacement. The relocation of the Bahrain round has raised fresh concerns about the viability of the final two events originally slated for the Gulf region – the Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for 27‑29 November, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, set for 4‑6 December.
If the security situation does not improve, those races may have to be moved or scrapped entirely. During a press briefing, Domenico said he remains optimistic that the calendar will stay as it is, but he added that the sport will wait until the mid‑September deadline before making any definitive decision. "We are in contact with all the other championships," he explained. "For example, the World Endurance Championship has already announced that it will not finish the year in the Middle East and will remain in Europe." He continued, "Our approach is to give ourselves the maximum amount of time to monitor how the situation evolves and then decide at the appropriate moment – not before the middle of September.
At this point the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are still confirmed, but if the circumstances are not clearer by then we will have to act accordingly." Domenico also highlighted logistical hurdles tied to post‑Brexit documentation, which make Europe the only realistic alternative venue for the two closing rounds. "If the Middle East races cannot happen, the season will finish in Europe because we have no other viable locations," he said, adding that several European circuits are being considered, though he stopped short of naming any specific track as a guaranteed replacement. One circuit that has been mentioned in speculation is Italy's historic Imola track. Domenico described Imola as "an option, but not yet defined" as a potential stand‑in.
It is possible that Imola, perhaps alongside another European venue, could host one or both of the displaced events, allowing Formula 1 to keep the schedule as close as possible to the originally planned 24‑race format. As it stands, the calendar has already been trimmed to 23 races after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was lost.
Racing in Europe at the end of November or early December does raise concerns about colder weather, yet Domenico pointed out that the temperatures expected for a European finale would actually be milder than those forecast for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place earlier in November. He noted, "If you look at the climate data, Europe at that time of year is not as cold as Las Vegas during its race weekend." The idea of adding a second Las Vegas race was briefly entertained but ultimately dismissed.
Domenico warned that duplicating the event could dilute its prestige and force Formula 1 into direct competition with the NFL, which dominates the American sports calendar in early December. "We don't want to undermine a jewel that is still growing," he said, emphasizing the need to protect the brand's value and avoid clashing with a major US sporting spectacle.
Any reshuffling of the calendar could have a ripple effect on the championship battle. Currently, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings by 50 points over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with twelve races still to run. A shift in venue or timing could influence team strategies, tyre allocations, and even fan engagement as the sport navigates these geopolitical challenges.
Looking ahead, the 2026 season will resume after the summer hiatus with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from 21‑23 August, all sessions to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a contract and cancel at any time. The series remains committed to delivering a full, exciting season despite the uncertainties, and will keep stakeholders updated as the September deadline approaches.