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 arrive around the middle of October. The 2026 championship is slated to conclude with two back‑to‑back races – the Qatar Grand Prix from 27 to 29 November followed immediately by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 4 to 6 December – but the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which erupted in February, has cast a shadow over those dates for several months. Both events are still listed on the provisional 23‑race calendar, and sources at Sky Sports News indicate that the governing body intends to keep them on the schedule.
However, contingency plans are already being prepared. The Imola circuit in Italy is being positioned as a backup venue should the Middle Eastern rounds become untenable. Organisers have the luxury of time to make a final call, but they are keen to avoid last‑minute reshuffling.
During the F1 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 reiterated the information they had been given. Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu explained, "I understand that Stefano [Domenicali, the FIA’s president] aims to inform us by mid‑October so we all know where we stand.
Imola is being readied as a fallback, but our hope is that the original plan – racing in Qatar and then Abu Dhabi – can proceed as intended. That would be ideal." Audi’s former technical chief Mattia Binotto added, "We discussed the matter at the F1 Commission last Monday. Mid‑October is the deadline for a final decision." Sky Sports F1 correspondent Craig Slater provided further insight: "My latest information from senior Formula 1 officials is that both Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar and the intention is to run them.
The current stability in the region suggests that, if the situation does not deteriorate in the next few weeks, the races could go ahead as planned. Only a significant new escalation would force a cancellation." He continued, "Imola is on standby as a contingency, but the organizers are not forced to commit to it unless the last two races cannot be held.
Should that happen, Imola would receive compensation for any financial losses incurred while preparing for a possible replacement race. The consensus among the teams is that a clarification will be delivered by mid‑October, so we will be watching that timeline closely." In Baku, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton expressed his personal desire to see the sport return to the Middle East as originally scheduled. "I love going to the Middle East and I’d personally like to race there," Hamilton said. "From what I’ve read, the situation appears to be stable, although I don’t have all the data on risk levels.
I trust Stefano to make the right call for the sport, and I hope we can still travel to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Finishing the season in Imola would mean winter weather, and while Imola is a beautiful circuit, it doesn’t offer the same overtaking opportunities.
More races are always better for the championship." The broader schedule for the weekend also includes a packed programme of support series and qualifying sessions. On Friday, September 25, the timetable features an F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, the Azerbaijan GP Practice Three at 9:15 am (with the session officially starting at 9:30 am), the F2 Feature Race at 11:10 am, and the Grand Prix qualifying build‑up later in the day, culminating in the Azerbaijan GP Qualifying at 1:00 pm.
Saturday, September 26, continues with the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, the main Grand Prix action at midday, and post‑race analysis throughout the afternoon. All of these events are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. Viewers are encouraged to use a Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, the F1 community is awaiting a mid‑October verdict on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds will proceed as originally planned or be replaced by a contingency race at Imola.
The decision will hinge on the security situation in the region, and teams are preparing for both outcomes. Until the official announcement, the focus remains on the current Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, where drivers and fans alike hope for a smooth and competitive event.