F1 Season May End in Europe if Middle East Conflict Continues, Says Boss
F1 President Stefano Domenicali warns that the championship finale could move back to Europe, with a final decision expected by mid-September.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- F1 season finale may return to Europe if Middle East tensions persist
- A final decision regarding the calendar will be made by mid-September
- Italy's Imola circuit is considered the front-runner to replace Qatar and Abu Dhabi
- Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were previously cancelled due to the regional conflict
Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali has revealed that the 2026 world championship could wrap up its season within Europe if the ongoing conflict in the Middle East prevents the scheduled season-closing races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi from taking place.
Speaking on a conference call with F1 media, the 61-year-old executive stated that a definitive choice would be reached by the "middle of September", noting that alternate measures must be triggered if conditions do not improve satisfactorily.
"If this will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go in other places."
Stefano Domenicali
While Domenicali did not explicitly name the replacement circuit should Qatar and Abu Dhabi be called off, the Imola circuit in Italy has emerged as the strong front-runner to host the final event.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The necessity for Formula 1 to constantly adapt its global calendar due to geopolitical instability highlights the vulnerability of modern international sports logistics. Maintaining a 24-race schedule while ensuring participant safety requires robust contingency planning, especially when traditional high-stakes rounds in the Middle East face sudden disruptions.
F1 has already been forced to scrap its April slots for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the wake of the US-Israel war with Iran. In response, the sport announced that Malaysia would step in to host a substitute round in September to fulfill various commercial obligations.
Source: BBC Sport
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