The Formula 1 teams have been told that a definitive answer regarding the fate of the season‑closing events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be delivered around mid‑October. The 2026 championship is slated to conclude with two back‑to‑back races: the Qatar Grand Prix scheduled for 27‑29 November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set for 4‑6 December. However, the ongoing conflict that erupted in the Middle East in February has cast a lingering shadow over these fixtures, leaving their status in a state of uncertainty for several months. Both races still appear on the official calendar, which currently lists 23 events for the year, and insiders at Sky Sports News understand that the governing body’s intention remains to hold them as planned.
Nevertheless, contingency planning is underway. The Imola circuit in Italy has been identified as a possible replacement venue should the Middle Eastern rounds prove unfeasible.
Organisers have indicated that Imola is being prepared as a backup, but no final decision has been made, giving the sport additional time to assess the security situation before committing to a definitive alternative. During a recent Formula 1 Commission meeting on Monday, team principals were briefed on the timeline for a decision. At Thursday’s press conference in Baku, the heads of the teams confirmed that they have been given a clear window in which the final verdict will be announced. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu explained, “I understand that Stefano [Domenicali, the F1 president] is aiming to give us an answer in mid‑October so that everyone knows where we stand.
Imola is being readied as a fallback, but our hope is that the baseline scenario holds and we can travel to Qatar and Abu Dhabi as originally scheduled. That would be ideal.” Audi’s former technical director Mattia Binotto echoed this sentiment, stating, “We discussed the matter at the F1 Commission last Monday.
Mid‑October is the deadline for a final call.” Their comments underline the consensus among the teams that a mid‑October clarification is the realistic target for the sport’s leadership. Sky Sports’ Formula 1 correspondent Craig Slater provided additional context, saying, “The latest information from senior Formula 1 officials is that both Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar and the intention is to go ahead with them. Based on the current stability in the region, if the situation holds over the next few weeks, the races should be able to proceed.
Only a further deterioration would force a cancellation.” He added that Imola would serve as a contingency only if the two Middle Eastern events could not be run, and that any financial losses incurred by Imola in preparing for a possible replacement would be compensated by the sport’s governing body. “Mid‑October is when the teams expect to receive a clear update, so we’ll be watching that closely,” Slater concluded. In Baku, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton expressed personal optimism about the prospect of racing in the Middle East later in the year. “I personally want to go.
I love going to the Middle East,” Hamilton said. “From what I’ve read, things seem OK out there, but I don’t have all the details, so I can’t assess the risk fully. I trust Stefano to make the right call for the sport, and I hope we get to race there.” He also weighed the alternative of finishing the season at Imola, noting, “Winter weather in Imola isn’t ideal, and while it’s a beautiful circuit, it doesn’t offer many overtaking opportunities.
More races are better for the championship.” The broader schedule for the weekend in Azerbaijan includes a full slate of support series and practice sessions. On Friday, September 25, the program begins with an F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Practice Three at 9:15 am (the session officially starts at 9:30 am). Later in the day, the F2 Feature Race 1 runs at 11:10 am, leading into the Grand Prix qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm and the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm. The day concludes with a “Ted’s Qualifying Notebook” segment at 3:00 pm.
Saturday, September 26, continues with the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, the main Azerbaijan Grand Prix start at noon, and post‑race analysis, including a chequered‑flag reaction and another edition of “Ted’s Notebook,” in the afternoon. All of these events are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season remains a compelling narrative as it heads into the final stretch. While the uncertainty surrounding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds adds a layer of drama, the sport’s leadership appears confident that a decision will be reached in a timely manner.
Teams are preparing for both outcomes: they are ready to travel to the Middle East if conditions allow, and they have Imola on standby as a viable alternative. Fans can look forward to a decisive update in mid‑October, after which the championship’s concluding chapters will either unfold under the lights of Lusail and Yas Marina or shift to the historic curves of Imola. Until then, the focus stays on the thrilling on‑track action in Baku, where drivers are battling for points that could prove crucial in the final championship tally.