Formula 1 Stands Down Imola and Commits to Finishing Its Season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi

Formula 1 will finish its 2026 season in the Middle East after all. The sport confirmed this week that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will go ahead as planned, and that Italy's Imola circuit, which had been held in reserve as a back-up, has been stood down ^[1].

The Qatar race weekend runs November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi closes the season December 4-6, despite the continuing military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, GB News reported ^[2]. Imola had been placed on standby in case the situation in the Gulf made those races impossible ^[2].

The FIA Says It Is Ready

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed the plan on social media on Tuesday. "We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi," he wrote, adding that the governing body is fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding race weekends, according to Al Jazeera ^[3]. His comments echoed what F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said last month ^[3].

Ben Sulayem had already signaled his confidence in October. At a media briefing, he said his own children live in the United Arab Emirates and that he would not leave them there if it were dangerous, and he argued that what is reported in the media differs from what is happening on the ground, The Race reported ^[4]. He also insisted the FIA would never take people into a risky situation, saying "we will never take our staff or drivers or any officials" anywhere it believed was unsafe ^[4]. He told reporters he had asked for a second FIA team to be ready in case governments restricted travel for key officials such as the race director or stewards ^[4].

The decision had been a long time coming. F1 first pointed to a decision by mid-September, and that deadline later slid to mid-October, according to The Race ^[4].

Why the Worry Was Real

This was not a theoretical concern. Earlier this year, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was scrapped after the war with Iran broke out, and the Bahrain race was delayed and moved to Malaysia, Al Jazeera reported ^[3]. The Race noted that Iran-backed Houthi rebels had targeted Riyadh's international airport and that container ships had been struck near the Strait of Hormuz ^[4].

Not everyone in the paddock is comfortable. Al Jazeera reported that drivers have expressed mixed feelings, with Max Verstappen among those airing reservations ^[3].

The warnings from Washington have not stopped, either. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh issued an alert dated November 10 urging Americans in the region to exercise heightened vigilance because of an increased threat of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis and Iranian efforts to target U.S. officials, and it told travelers to take extreme caution when flying to or from Saudi airports, NTD reported ^[6]. That alert came a day after President Trump said the conflict "militarily is effectively over" ^[6].

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MotoGP Went First, and It Worked

Motorcycle racing has already tested the waters. MotoGP's Qatar Grand Prix, postponed from April because of the conflict, ran at the Lusail circuit November 6-8, where Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi won and Ducati's Marc Marquez finished second, according to Al Jazeera ^[5]. Yamaha pulled its factory team and its satellite Pramac team, citing company-wide travel restrictions for the Middle East, which cut the field to 18 riders ^[5].

MotoGP deputy chief executive Carlos Ezpeleta stood by the call. "We can unequivocally say that it was the right decision," he told Reuters, as reported by Al Jazeera ^[5]. He said the decision rested on official information from the Qatari government and from embassies with a large presence in the paddock, and that riders' concerns were normal and had been addressed ^[5].

Jessie's Take: Safety First, Then the Show

With the championship already settled, the last two races are about finishing what was started. Kimi Antonelli has wrapped up the drivers' title, and Mercedes clinched the constructors' crown last weekend in Sao Paulo, Al Jazeera reported ^[3]. Nobody needs to risk lives for a trophy that has already been handed out.

That is why the FIA's back-up plans matter, and why the sport should keep listening closely to the State Department and to the governments hosting these races. The thousands of mechanics, caterers, truck drivers and fans who make a Grand Prix happen deserve leaders who put their safety ahead of television contracts. If the people on the ground say it is safe, race. If anything changes, stand down without hesitation.

What Comes Next

After Las Vegas, the paddock heads to Qatar at the end of the month and to Abu Dhabi for the finale in early December ^[2]. Every team, and every family waiting at home, will be watching the news out of the Gulf as closely as the timing screens.