F1 drops Imola contingency and will conclude 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi

Formula 1 has told Italy's Imola circuit it will not be used as a backup venue and will instead finish the 2026 season with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, the sport indicated on November 11.

The prospect of alternative arrangements had arisen after the Iran war forced changes to the F1 calendar, with the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cancelled. Imola, which hosted the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix until 2025, was not on the 2026 calendar but had been kept available while preliminary preparations were carried out with local authorities.

Those contingency plans have now been dropped, with F1 informing Imola and the teams that there will be no race at the Italian circuit, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed confidence in the Middle East rounds in a post on Instagram. "The countdown is on," Ben Sulayem said. "We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding Grand Prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the FIA Formula One World Championship." He added that the FIA was working closely with its partners to ensure everything was in place for the drivers, teams and fans. He did not provide specific details about the security arrangements.

F1 stressed that the decision to drop Imola does not amount to proceeding regardless of security conditions: safety concerns remain a priority and the possibility of a late change cannot be entirely ruled out if conditions worsen. All 11 teams have supported the decision to stick with the planned schedule, according to Reuters.

Three races remain in the 2026 season, starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21, followed by Qatar on November 29 and the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Kimi Antonelli has already secured the drivers' championship, becoming the youngest world champion in F1 history, and Mercedes have clinched the constructors' title.

The Qatar and Abu Dhabi double-header will therefore close the season, with F1 aiming to complete its calendar without further disruption.