Formula 1 told the Italian circuit on 10 November to stand down while retaining plans for Qatar on 27–29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4–6 December; it says it could still cancel the races if conditions deteriorate.
Formula 1 told Italy’s Imola circuit on 10 November to stand down preparations as a backup venue for the season finale.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on 10 November that Formula 1's final races would go ahead as planned, with the Qatar Grand Prix on 29 November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 6 December. The FIA is motorsport’s governing body.
F1 had arranged for Imola to host a replacement finale if the Middle Eastern races could not take place. It retains the option to cancel the scheduled races if conditions worsen.
The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran had already disrupted the calendar: Saudi Arabia’s April race was canceled and Bahrain’s was delayed. Uncertainty over the finale prompted F1 to arrange a fallback race at Imola on 6 December, allowing more time to assess conditions without risking an early end to the season if the final races were called off.
F1 agreed to pay for early work at Imola because waiting for a final safety decision could have left too little time to ready the circuit. This week it had to choose between authorizing major infrastructure spending and stopping the preparations. The Race said the replacement race was estimated to cost about $10 million–$15 million, which F1 was willing to cover.
F1 said continuing with Qatar and Abu Dhabi was always its default option and that conditions in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates had not worsened in recent months. Government advice still permits travel, insurance remains valid, events are taking place and business has returned to normal levels, it said. F1 also said all teams support finishing the season as planned.
Several senior F1 figures nevertheless expressed unease to
Mercedes secured the 2026 constructors' title with 2 races remaining. Lando Norris won the Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen, while a penalty for Charles Leclerc promoted Liam Lawson to seventh. Isack Hadjar finished third, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli fourth and fifth for Mercedes.
F1 and the FIA receive hourly threat assessments and have told teams and drivers that an assessment indicating unnecessary risk would prompt cancellation, The Race said. Their assessment involves local police, military and security services, governments, and feedback from the UK Foreign Office, US State Department, European foreign offices and Middle Eastern intelligence services.
Government travel advice also guides the decisions. The Race said travel bans would obstruct the races because they would affect insurance. F1 has personnel in Doha and Abu Dhabi and has discussed concerns with teams and drivers.
F1 monitored the preceding weekend’s MotoGP race in Qatar. Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang attended to understand conditions there and help inform F1's assessment.
After the Las Vegas Grand Prix, personnel and equipment freight are due to move from there to the Middle East, making that the next logistical decision point. Monitoring is to continue until the last personnel have left Abu Dhabi after the final race.
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Max Verstappen has 30 penalty places, while Lewis Hamilton joins him and Sergio Pérez at the back after Ferrari replaced his power unit.
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Max Verstappen wins the Mexico City Grand Prix ahead of Lewis Hamilton as third-placed Kimi Antonelli clinches his first drivers’ title. At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli becomes Formula 1’s youngest champion and its first Italian champion since 1953, giving Mercedes its 10th drivers’ title and first since 2020.
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Update ·
Revised from the day's reports.
Update ·
The update adds the FIA president’s confirmation of the final two races and their scheduled dates.
