Formula 1 can still be affected by the situation of the War in the Middle East, which has been unfolding since early 2026. The main motorsport category continues to study the scenario and possible solutions for the conclusion of the championship.
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Some time ago, a proposed solution was a double round in Las Vegas. However, it would not be ideal, as the following weekend, between November 21 and 22, is Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, one of the most important in the country, which could reduce public interest.
Also, a calendar with at least 22 rounds is what Liberty Media plans. Following this, Malaysia will serve as the venue for the Bahrain GP, which was canceled in April – the race will take place between Azerbaijan and Singapore.
Now, if Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot host Formula 1, two options are available: Portimão, in Portugal, and Imola, in Italy.
Stefano Domenicali, F1 CEO, has already stated that if the championship needs to recalculate the route, there is only one certainty: it will end in Europe. Therefore, the two venues are among the strongest rumors among journalists.
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Imola, today, is the strongest option, especially after Sky Sports Italy let slip that the 2026 season will end in the country; in the Netherlands, commentators briefly mentioned that ‘the last race will be held in Imola,’ but quickly changed the subject.
The executive even spoke with the F1 website after the Dutch GP and tried to calm the mood involving, at least, Abu Dhabi. “We are preparing for the future and the calendar is confirmed. I know Las Vegas will once again be a unique place, where there will be a lot of expectation regarding what we are doing. And the calendar, as I said, is confirmed, so there are still some tickets to be sold in Abu Dhabi, so everything is progressing well and we remain focused on delivering the calendar we promised at the beginning of the year,” he continued.
Saif Rashid Al-Noiaimi, CEO of Ethara, organizer of the race in Abu Dhabi, followed the same discourse as Domenicali. In this, he highlighted that the company is “fully focused on offering another exceptional end of season in December,” also saying that they are working together with F1 on preparations for the weekend.
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