Chances Increase for Formula 1 Season to Conclude in the Middle East

Confidence is growing within Formula 1 that plans to hold the final two rounds of the 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will proceed as scheduled.

Following the outbreak of war in Iran in late February this year, significant tensions arose in the Middle East, directly impacting the Formula 1 calendar. This led to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, originally slated for April.

The Bahrain Grand Prix eventually found its way back onto the schedule, but the event will now take place at Sepang in Malaysia next week. However, it remains uncertain whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races, planned for late November and early December, will go ahead.

Other motorsport series, including the World Endurance Championship and the World Rally Championship, have already canceled their Middle Eastern events. Formula 1, however, has been waiting as long as possible to make its decision. Should both Middle Eastern races be called off, the season would conclude at Imola in early December.

With just two months remaining until the Qatar Grand Prix, pressure to make a final decision is mounting. Many airlines have been operating flights to major cities in the region for some time, but no European airlines, with the exception of those registered in Turkey, are currently flying to the Middle East.

During the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid earlier this month, representatives from the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races were present for discussions, which are likely to continue this weekend in Baku. As the situation in both countries appears calmer compared to recent months, Formula 1 is increasingly optimistic about proceeding with its original plan to travel to the region.