Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has announced that the 2026 season could conclude in Europe if Qatar and Abu Dhabi are unable to host the final rounds due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
A decision will be made by mid-September, with several European venues under consideration to host the championship finale. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been rescheduled to October at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia as a temporary solution.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and have prepared alternative plans to ensure the championship can be completed," Domenicali said. "Europe is ready to host the season finale if needed."
F1's return to Sepang, where it last raced in 2017, represents a prestigious solution for the relocated Bahrain GP. The Malaysian facility hosted F1 races for nearly two decades and the circuit is still considered up to modern standards.
The geopolitical situation in the Middle East continues to create uncertainty for the motorsport calendar, and F1 is preparing for multiple scenarios for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Sources
- Crash.net: https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1101987/1/stefano-domenicali-makes-key-announcement-over-uncertain-2026-and-2027-f1
- Sky Sports F1: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13568025/formula-1-2026-season-to-end-in-europe-if-qatar-and-abu-dhabi-unable-to-host-final-rounds-because-of-middle-east-conflict
