F1 Sets Mid-September Deadline on Qatar and Abu Dhabi as Season Finale Hangs in Balance

Formula 1 has confirmed that this year's season will conclude in Europe if the scheduled season-ending rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot go ahead because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, F1 president Stefano Domenicali said this week.

The update follows the sport's decision to move the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit in October, after the same regional conflict forced the cancellation of the original Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds earlier in the year. That switch left doubts hanging over whether the season's final two rounds, in Qatar on November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi on December 4-6, will be able to proceed as planned.

Domenicali said F1 will take maximum time to assess the situation and does not expect to make a final call before the middle of September, adding that the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain confirmed for now. Should a further relocation be needed, logistical and documentation issues connected to Brexit mean Europe would be the only realistic alternative, with multiple venues already understood to be under consideration.

The situation adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a 2026 calendar that has already been reshuffled once this season, with Malaysia stepping in to host what will still be branded the Bahrain Grand Prix on October 2-4.

Playdash will continue monitoring how the uncertainty around the season-ending rounds affects long-term markets as the 2026 championship heads toward its final stretch.