Although the end of the current Formula 1 season is still far away, the deadline for the decision on whether or not to hold the last two races of the year is getting closer. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirms that an emergency plan is already on the table, should the Grands Prix of Qatar and Abu Dhabi – following those of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – also be canceled for safety reasons: ‘The Las Vegas GP will not be the last race on the calendar’.
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Last April, the Grands Prix of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled. The reason was the ongoing war in the Middle East, making it too unsafe for drivers, teams, and fans to travel to the two races. However, the canceled Grands Prix were not the only races this season taking place in the Middle East. There is still uncertainty about whether the last two races of the year, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will go ahead.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali explains to the French L’Équipe that the top class uses the same approach in deciding about the races as during the corona crisis. “Just like with Covid, we have to try to be as pragmatic as possible,” said the top executive. “The reason we canceled the races in Bahrain and Jeddah was because we knew at that time it was not possible to go there. Especially because we provide entertainment, a sport that brings joy and pleasure.”
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Emergency plan
The decision on whether or not to hold the last Grands Prix of 2026 must be made quickly, Domenicali confirms. “We hope, for F1 but especially for the world, that the situation improves as soon as possible. Promoters in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are already selling tickets, and sales are going very, very well. But there comes a time when we have to make decisions.” Therefore, Formula 1 already has an emergency plan. “If the two races at the end of the year cannot take place because the war is not over yet, we have other alternatives. The Las Vegas GP will not be the last race on the calendar.”
Finally, Domenicali also answers the question of whether both canceled races from last April – the Grands Prix of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – will be rescheduled in 2026. “To be honest, I think it is impossible to move both races,” says the Italian top executive. “And even moving just one race will not be easy. There are not many available dates.”
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