F1 tells teams Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as Imola stays on standby for 2026 finale

Formula 1 has told its teams that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will go ahead as planned to close the 2026 season, despite continued tension in the Middle East. Reuters reported on Tuesday, 3 November, that the championship had given teams that assurance and cautioned them against making public statements about the Iran war, while Imola in Italy remains prepared as a fallback venue.

What F1 has told the teams

According to Crash.net, citing Autosport, a letter was sent to all teams during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend reiterating that the season would finish in the Gulf. The letter noted that other manufacturers, and MotoGP, would still be travelling to Qatar.

F1 has been told there have been no attacks on civilian infrastructure in Qatar or the UAE since May, and travel and insurance advice for the two countries is unchanged. Crash.net understands only a return to the level of escalation seen earlier in the year would force a change of plan.

The schedule therefore stays as it is:

• Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail International Circuit: 27-29 November (57 laps)
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit: 4-6 December (58 laps, season finale)

Both events follow the Las Vegas Grand Prix later this month and the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend.

A season already reshaped by the conflict

The 2026 calendar has already been rewritten once. The April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off because of the regional conflict, and the Bahrain round was later relocated to Malaysia. Sepang staged the "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia" on 4 October, a rain-hit race won by Max Verstappen after a start delayed by almost three and a half hours.

That move is one reason the late-season Gulf races have been under such scrutiny. A decision deadline originally expected in mid-September slid to mid-October, and the paddock has since shifted towards assuming both races will run unless told otherwise.

Officials confident, drivers more cautious

The governing bodies have been consistent in public. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said during the Sepang weekend that the calendar was confirmed, and organisers in Abu Dhabi reported that 99 per cent of tickets had been sold. On 20 October, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told reporters both races were going ahead, while adding that the FIA was ready to switch to Imola if needed and had prepared a second team of officials in case travel restrictions hit key staff.

Some drivers have been less certain. Williams driver Carlos Sainz, speaking personally rather than as a director of the drivers' association, said on 22 October it was "very difficult to be convinced right now". He nonetheless added that F1 and the FIA have more information than the drivers, and later said through Williams that he trusts them to put safety first.

Why it matters for the title fights

With Kimi Antonelli already crowned drivers' champion in Mexico, the main F1 stakes in the Gulf are the constructors' order and individual positions. Formula 2 is a different story: its 2026 title, led by Rafael Câmara from Nikola Tsolov, will be settled at the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds. F2 chief executive Bruno Michel said in October that he expects both events to go ahead.

The situation remains fluid. Separately, Yamaha has withdrawn from MotoGP's Qatar round, but F1's position for now is unchanged, with Imola a contingency rather than a plan.

Key takeaways

• F1 has reassured teams the Qatar (27-29 November) and Abu Dhabi (4-6 December) Grands Prix will go ahead.
• Teams were reportedly cautioned against public comment on the Iran war.
• Imola remains on standby as a contingency venue.
• Sepang hosted the displaced Bahrain round on 4 October after the April Gulf races were called off.
• The Formula 2 title will be decided at the two Middle East rounds.

FAQ

Are the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix still on the 2026 F1 calendar? Yes. Both races remain on the official calendar, and F1 has told teams they will take place as scheduled.

What happens if the Middle East races are cancelled? Imola in Italy has been prepared as a contingency venue for the season finale, though F1 has not activated that plan.

Why did Malaysia host a Grand Prix in 2026? After the April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off, the Bahrain round was relocated to Sepang, where it ran on 4 October as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Sources: Reuters, Crash.net, The Race, Arabian Business, Sky Sports, The Star