F1 surprises fans with 2026 calendar reveal just minutes before Bahrain GP qualifying as a backup plan comes to light
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are still set to happen in 2026, despite the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. However, he did offer a word of caution.
These two races are planned to finish the 2026 season in November and December. Lately, there have been worries about whether they would proceed because of the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. F1 has already canceled races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain because of this situation. The Bahrain race was moved to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, which is why this weekend’s Grand Prix keeps its original name.
In an interview with Sky Sports Italy before Saturday’s qualifying, former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on. “That’s the plan based on what we know,” he said, “but we need certain guarantees to be sure. This is the plan we will stick to until the end of the year.”
Since 2009, Abu Dhabi has usually hosted the final race of the season, except for 2012. Qatar joined the calendar in 2021, hosting the race at the Losail International Circuit. Domenicali also mentioned back in July that F1 hoped to decide on the calendar by mid-September, but that deadline seems to have passed without an update.
F1 reporter Jon Noble says Imola is being kept as a backup plan if the Middle East races can’t happen because of the unrest. At a recent F1 Commission meeting, Audi’s Mattia Binotto said teams expect to hear about the calendar plans by mid-October. Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu added, “I think Imola is getting ready just in case. But hopefully, we can stick with Qatar and Abu Dhabi. That would be great.”
One driver who probably isn’t happy is Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last month, he said F1 shouldn’t race in the Middle East right now. “Normally, I’m happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Verstappen told reporters in Baku. “But when there’s a war nearby and some countries are in conflict, I don’t think we should go. Contracts don’t really matter in that case, but it’s not my decision.”