Formula 1 is still awaiting updates regarding Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Formula 1 will postpone its decision regarding the safety of Qatar and Abu Dhabi's positions at the close of the 2026 calendar until after mid-September. Stefano Domenicali confirmed that F1 is currently working in coordination with other significant championships.
The F1 CEO mentioned that the sport is observing how other series react to the ongoing instability in the Middle East. "We are in communication with all other championships," he stated. "For instance, the WEC World Endurance Championship has declared that it will not travel to the Middle East at the season's end and will remain in Europe."
Domenicali emphasized that Formula 1 has not reached a similar conclusion. "Our position is to take as much time as necessary to evaluate how the situation unfolds before making a decision at the right time," the Italian explained. "That choice will be made sometime after mid-September."
As of now, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on the schedule and both events have already sold out. However, if the situation worsens, Domenicali mentioned that the season would conclude in Europe. "If the initial plan becomes unattainable, we will finish the season in Europe since we cannot venture into other regions," he explained. "Thus, the final race will take place in Europe. We are considering various options, but it's premature to make any promises or predictions at this point."
Imola is suggested as a possible venue, although Domenicali pointed out that no agreement has been reached yet. The broader calendar strategy may also become less reliant on the Middle East following this year's disruptions, which have significantly impacted Liberty Media's revenue.
Domenicali indicated that Europe is gaining importance again, while China and the wider Far East are also rapidly expanding. "We are closely monitoring Europe as the numbers are rising, making it a significant market once more," he noted. "The Far East market is emerging as a new region with considerable and positive growth potential."
Africa remains a viable option as well. "All I can say is that negotiations in Africa are progressing very well," said the F1 CEO. "Portugal will host the event next year, and Turkey has also been included in the list. This implies that we have additional locations to consider for hosting the Grand Prix in the future."
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