AUGUST 21, 2026

F1 still waiting on Qatar, Abu Dhabi

Formula 1 will wait until after mid-September before deciding whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can safely remain at the end of the 2026 calendar, with Stefano Domenicali confirming that F1 is now coordinating with other major championships.

The F1 CEO revealed that the sport is watching how other series respond to the continuing instability in the Middle East.

We are in contact with all the other championships, he said.

For example, the WEC World Endurance Championship has announced that it will not go to the Middle East at the end of the season and will stay in Europe.

Domenicali stressed that Formula 1 has not yet made the same decision.

Our position is to take as much time as possible to assess how the situation develops and make a decision at the appropriate time, said the Italian.

That decision will be made sometime after mid-September.

For now, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain confirmed and both are already sold out. But if the situation deteriorates, Domenicali says the season would finish in Europe.

If the original plan becomes impossible, we will end the season in Europe because we cannot go to other regions.

So the final race will be held in Europe. We are considering several options, but it is not appropriate to promise or predict anything at this time.

Imola has been mentioned as one possibility, although Domenicali stressed that no agreement exists.

The wider calendar strategy may also become less dependent on the Middle East after this year's disruptions contributed heavily to Liberty Media's revenue decline.

Domenicali says Europe is becoming more important again, while China and the broader Far East are also growing rapidly.

We are keeping a close eye on Europe because the numbers are growing and it is becoming an important market again, he said.

The Far East market is becoming a new region with dramatic and positive growth potential.

Africa also remains firmly in play.

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 added to the list. This means there are other places where we can host the Grand Prix in the future.

(GMM)