Formula 1 teams would like to receive a definition from the FIA and FOM regarding the holding of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs before the end of September. Despite the pressure for greater clarity, both events remain scheduled on the calendar for now.
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This uncertainty creates difficulties for the teams, who need to plan their budgets for the entire season, without knowing how the championship will end. If the races in the Middle East are canceled due to the conflict in the region, a round in Imola should be added in place of one of them.
The financial issue is pointed out as the main reason for FOM to postpone a decision as much as possible. The organization still hopes that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs can be held, and with that, preserve the revenues associated with the two races.
Meanwhile, Haas is among the teams that would like a quicker definition. Team principal Ayo Komatsu explained that financial planning becomes more complicated with races so late in the calendar: “Now a race has been added, in Malaysia (which will be held under the name of the Bahrain GP), but the two races later in the season, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are a bit more difficult to manage financially, precisely because they are so late in the calendar,” he stated.
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Asked about a possible immediate decision, Komatsu acknowledged that it would be better for the teams, but highlighted the difficulty faced by the organization: “Of course, an earlier decision would be better, but I understand it’s difficult. An early decision is always preferable, obviously. I think everyone is in the same boat,” he added.
While the FIA and FOM maintain the possibility of holding both races, the teams are already working with the alternative scenario. The teams have reserved hotels around Imola for the first weekend of December, although the definition regarding the end of the 2026 calendar is still pending.
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