Steiner: It's hard to find a place for the 22nd race at the end of the year.
The president and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, said that in case the two final races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot be held due to the situation in the Middle East, the concluding races of 2026 will take place in Europe. However, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that holding a European Grand Prix in November or December is unlikely.
"Racing in Europe in November or December makes no sense," Guenther Steiner reflects in The Red Flags podcast. "There is too great a risk that the weather will let you down. Moreover, the event should take place where it makes economic sense for the teams. They shouldn't just be losing money, and the race in Malaysia became possible because Bahrain will cover all the costs.
Formula 1 is a business, so holding races must generate income. I think that's why finding another spot on the calendar will be challenging.
The option with Malaysia also emerged to maintain at least more than twenty races on the calendar. Of course, ideally, Stefano Domenicali would like to hold no fewer than 22 events in a season, but in my opinion, finding a place for the 22nd race at the end of the year will be very difficult."
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