Formula 1 officials have informed Imola circuit organizers that their services will not be required for a December season finale in 2026, confirming that the championship will conclude as scheduled in the Middle East.
The decision maintains the current calendar, which positions the final rounds in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
The sport’s governing body had held discussions with Imola as a contingency option in case the Middle Eastern events became untenable due to ongoing regional conflict.
The conflict in the Middle East, which escalated in late February, has previously disrupted regional sporting schedules, leading to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the relocation of the Bahrain event to Malaysia. Despite these pressures, F1 officials said that the recent successful staging of a MotoGP race in Qatar provided confidence in the region’s operational viability.
While the calendar remains firm, F1 leadership has acknowledged the volatile nature of the region and emphasized that safety remains the primary priority. Should the situation deteriorate, the sport is prepared to cancel the final rounds entirely.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur emphasized his focus on the competition, telling F1LV Blogs, “I, personally, am ready to compete. It doesn’t matter where, but I want to compete. I will go where they tell us to go.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff indicated that the teams maintain trust in the decisions made by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Stefano and Mohammed have been quite clear about the situation, that Formula 1 follows international guidelines, regardless of whether there are travel restrictions, flight bans, or regional warnings,” Wolff told F1LV Blogs. “If the situation became more dangerous, they would be the first to protect our people together with Mohammed.”
The 2026 season is set to conclude following the race in Las Vegas, with the final checkpoints occurring in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. No further changes to the calendar have been announced, and the sport continues to monitor international safety guidance ahead of the final rounds.
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