Formula 1 tells Imola it will not be required as back-up for Qatar and Abu Dhabi finales
Formula 1 has informed the Imola circuit in Italy it will not be needed as a back-up for the two end-of-season races in the Middle East, which are scheduled for 27-29 November in Qatar and 4-6 December in Abu Dhabi; Max Verstappen won the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
F1 said it is pressing ahead with plans to hold the two events despite the ongoing conflict between the United States/Israel and Iran. Imola had been asked to prepare to stage a potential grand prix on the Abu Dhabi dates, but was told on Tuesday to stand down those preparations. The sport added it remains prepared to cancel the two races if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates.
Earlier in the season, races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain that had been scheduled for April were cancelled and delayed respectively following the outbreak of the United States and Israel's war with Iran. The Bahrain Grand Prix was eventually held at Malaysia's Sepang circuit in October. A MotoGP race was held in Qatar last weekend, and that sport is owned by the same US group that owns F1.
"If the situation develops negatively in the coming weeks before the events in the Middle East, we will not hesitate to do the right thing and the safety of everyone will always be the priority," an F1 spokesperson said on Tuesday. F1 added the decision to press ahead with Qatar and Abu Dhabi, "which was always the default option, has been taken because the situation in the two countries has not 'negatively developed' in recent months."
The governing body said government travel advice still allows travel, insurance is valid, events are taking place and business has returned to a normal level in both countries, and that the teams are all supportive of concluding the season as planned. Despite that, several senior figures in F1 expressed disquiet to BBC Sport about staging races in the Middle East. Both Qatar and Abu Dhabi lie close to areas in the Straight of Hormuz where missile strikes are still taking place.
Saudi Arabia continues to be the target of attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen, and several events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following those attacks. F1 acknowledged the complexity of the decision given the commercial relationships involved: the two countries pay large fees for their events and are heavily ingrained in the fabric of the sports as sponsors and investors.
Qatar's sovereign investment involvement and Abu Dhabi's investment links were cited as examples of those commercial ties: the Qatari sovereign investment fund is a part owner of the Audi team, and Abu Dhabi is the same for McLaren. F1 has therefore confirmed the Qatar Grand Prix is due to take place on 27-29 November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 4-6 December, while retaining the option to cancel if circumstances change.