The Formula One teams have been told that a definitive answer regarding the fate of the season‑closing events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be delivered by the middle of October. The 2026 championship is slated to conclude with two consecutive races: the Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for 27‑29 November, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 4‑6 December.
However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which erupted in February, has cast a shadow over the feasibility of those dates for several months. Both races are still listed on the official calendar, which currently features 23 rounds, and sources close to Sky Sports News indicate that the governing body intends to run them as planned.
Should circumstances deteriorate to the point where the Middle Eastern venues become untenable, the Italian circuit at Imola is being prepared as a backup option to host the finale. Formula One officials have more time before a final determination is required, but the contingency plan is already in motion. During a Formula 1 Commission meeting on Monday, team principals received clarification about the timing of the decision. At Thursday’s press conference in Baku, the leaders of the teams confirmed that they have been given a clear deadline for when the outcome will be announced.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu explained, "I understand that Stefano [Domenicali, the FIA’s president of Formula 1] aims to inform us by mid‑October so we all know where we stand. Imola is being readied in case we need to shift the finale there, but our hope is that the original schedule can be preserved and we can still race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. That would be ideal." Audi’s former technical chief Mattia Binotto added, "We discussed the matter during the Formula 1 Commission on Monday.
Mid‑October is the final deadline for that decision." Sky Sports’ Formula 1 correspondent Craig Slater provided further insight: "The latest information from leadership within Formula 1 is that both Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar and the intention is to go ahead with them. Based on the current level of stability in the region, if the situation holds steady over the next few weeks, the races should be able to proceed.
Only a renewed deterioration would force a cancellation." He continued, "Imola is positioned as a contingency, but the organizers are not forced to commit exclusively to that alternative. If the Middle Eastern rounds cannot take place, Imola will step in, and the sport will compensate the circuit for any financial losses incurred in preparing for a possible race. The teams understand that a clarification will arrive by mid‑October, so we will be watching the developments closely." In Baku, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism about returning to the Middle East. "I personally want to go.
I love going to the Middle East," Hamilton said. "From what I’ve read, things seem OK there, although I don’t have all the details on risk levels.
I trust Stefano to make the right call for the sport, and I hope we get to race there. Finishing the season in winter at Imola might not offer the best weather, and while Imola is a beautiful track, it doesn’t provide many overtaking opportunities.
More races are always better for the championship." The broader schedule for the weekend in Baku includes a packed programme of Formula 2 and Formula 1 sessions. On Friday, September 25, the day begins with an F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Practice Three at 9:15 am (the session itself starts at 9:30 am). Later that morning, the F2 Feature Race 1 takes place at 11:10 am, with the Grand Prix qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, and the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm. The afternoon continues with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm.
Saturday, September 26, kicks off with the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, then the main Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself starts at noon, followed by the chequered‑flag ceremony and race reaction at 2:00 pm, and concluding with Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm.
All of these events are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season therefore continues to unfold live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix serving as the centerpiece of a triple‑header weekend. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, without a long‑term contract and with the ability to cancel at any time, ensuring flexible access to the high‑octane action. In summary, the teams are awaiting a mid‑October verdict on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds will proceed as scheduled or be replaced by a contingency race at Imola.
The decision hinges on the security situation in the Middle East, and while the organizers are prepared with a backup plan, the preferred outcome remains to race in the original venues, preserving the intended climax to the 2026 championship.