FIA confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi F1 finale despite Middle East war

FIA confirms the final two rounds

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, confirmed on 10 November that the last two rounds of the 2026 Formula One season will go ahead in the Middle East as planned. The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for 29 November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for 6 December. He posted the message on his personal Instagram account, and NOS noted that he made the announcement in a personal capacity, as neither the FIA nor FOM, the championship's commercial rights holder, had yet made a statement on whether the weekends would take place. In the post he wrote:

“We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding grands prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the Formula One World Championship.”

Imola drops out as backup

Imola had offered to host the race on the weekend of 6 December if a replacement venue was needed. Telegraaf reported that the circuit's organisers have indicated that no race will take place there, which closes that option for good. The decision had to be made because of the freight that still has to be shipped for the remaining events. NOS said the Imola circuit had been kept in reserve as a venue for the season finale.

Championship already decided

Kimi Antonelli, the Bologna-born Mercedes driver, has already wrapped up the drivers' world championship, Al Jazeera reported. Mercedes secured the constructors' crown on the weekend of 7 to 8 November in Sao Paulo. N-tv noted that with both titles settled, the remaining races carry little sporting weight, yet several drivers had voiced concern about the war and its effects on the wider region. Al Jazeera said Max Verstappen was among those who aired reservations about racing in the Middle East. Ben Sulayem's comments echo those made by F1 boss Stefano Domenicali last month, Al Jazeera reported.

Regional war and earlier disruption

The announcement follows days of uncertainty linked to the war that broke out at the start of 2026 between the United States, Israel and Iran. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was scrapped following the outbreak of the war, and the Bahrain race was moved to Malaysia, where NOS says it was run in October. Telegraaf reported that US President Donald Trump said in the week of 9 November that new military attacks were probably not needed, after a conversation with Qatar's prime minister. Several events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed following attacks on the country by Yemen's Houthis, according to Al Jazeera.

Wider sport and the remaining calendar

NOS reported that the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix went ahead as scheduled on the same circuit that will host the F1 race on 29 November, after being moved from April to November. Other events have fared worse: the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was postponed by a year to December 2027, the Finalissima in Qatar did not take place, and tennis tournaments and triathlons were cancelled. NOS also reported that tens of millions are reportedly at stake per race weekend. Before the Middle East rounds, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is due on 21 November, and Telegraaf said that race could in theory be the last of the year if the situation in the Middle East became more pressing.