BREAKING: F1 CONFIRMS FINAL TWO RACES WILL GO AHEAD IN QATAR AND ABU DHABI DESPITE ONGOING WAR
Formula 1 has delivered a major update on the final two rounds of the 2026 championship, with F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali confirming that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain the planned conclusion to the season despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the two races, with F1 previously preparing contingency plans that could have seen the championship finish in Europe if the security situation prevented teams from travelling to the region.
Domenicali has now made clear that Formula 1’s current direction is to keep the original schedule intact.
Speaking on October 3, Domenicali said the calendar had been confirmed and that Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain scheduled as the final two Grands Prix of the year. However, he also stressed that the sport still requires the necessary assurances before the events can ultimately take place.
F1 TAKES MAJOR DECISION AFTER WEEKS OF UNCERTAINTY
The development represents a significant change in the tone surrounding the final two races.
For much of the past several months, there had been genuine doubt over whether Formula 1 would be able to return to Qatar and Abu Dhabi to close the season. The conflict in the region had already forced major changes to the 2026 calendar, including the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the relocation of the Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia.
F1 had previously established a contingency plan that would have seen the championship finish in Europe if the situation failed to improve sufficiently.
Imola had emerged as one of the circuits linked with a potential replacement, while F1 continued to monitor developments and consult with the relevant authorities.
That possibility has not been presented as the current plan following Domenicali’s latest comments.
QATAR AND ABU DHABI REMAIN THE SEASON FINALE
Under the current schedule, the Qatar Grand Prix is due to take place at Lusail, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.
The official 2026 calendar lists Qatar for November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi for December 4-6, making the Yas Marina event the planned championship finale.
The significance of the decision is enormous because the final races could play a decisive role in the 2026 title battle.
With the championship heading into its closing stages, teams and drivers need certainty over where the remaining rounds will be held. A late relocation would create substantial logistical challenges, particularly because Formula 1 teams transport large quantities of equipment across continents.
SAFETY REMAINS THE KEY CONDITION
Despite the latest confirmation, F1 has not suggested that safety concerns have disappeared.
Domenicali’s comments specifically referred to the assurances that must be obtained before the sport can proceed through the end of the year.
That position is consistent with previous comments from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said the governing body would not put drivers, team personnel or staff at risk and would continue consulting governments and local promoters before making decisions concerning the Middle Eastern races.
That means the latest announcement should be understood as F1’s current confirmed direction rather than a dismissal of the security considerations surrounding the region.
F1 REFUSES TO GIVE UP ON THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR
The latest move also demonstrates how strongly Formula 1 wants to preserve the planned ending to the 2026 season.
Earlier in the year, F1 had already been forced to make major changes because of the conflict. Bahrain’s race was moved to Malaysia, while Saudi Arabia was removed from the calendar.
Formula 1 had therefore been working on alternative arrangements in case Qatar and Abu Dhabi could not be held.
But with the situation being reassessed, F1 has now returned to a clear position: Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain the final two races on the calendar.
For fans, that means the championship is currently heading towards a Middle Eastern finale rather than an emergency European replacement.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP DRAMA NOW BUILDS
The confirmation adds another layer of intrigue to the final phase of the season.
If the required assurances remain in place, teams will prepare for the demanding final double-header in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, where the championship could potentially be decided.
For now, Formula 1’s message is clear: the season is still scheduled to finish where it was originally intended.
After months of uncertainty, speculation about a European finale and concerns over the wider regional situation, F1 has chosen to maintain Qatar and Abu Dhabi as the closing chapters of the 2026 championship.
But with safety assurances still described as essential, attention will remain firmly fixed on developments in the region as the final races approach.
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