Formula One to Conclude Season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi
The Formula One season will end in the Middle East as planned, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi retaining their back‑to‑back slots and Imola formally stood down as emergency cover.
After weeks of watching the geopolitical situation in the region, Formula One has told teams it will press ahead with the November 29 race at Lusail and the finale in Abu Dhabi the following weekend. All 11 teams backed the decision.
Imola, a sentimental favourite as home ground for Italy’s new prodigy Kimi Antonelli and for Ferrari, had been quietly kept on standby for December 6 in case the Iran War and wider regional tensions made racing in the Gulf impossible. That contingency window has now closed, and local organizers at the historic Italian venue were informed on Tuesday that their services will not be required.
The confirmation came hard on the heels of MotoGP’s successful visit to Qatar, with the two‑wheel championship completing its own event at Lusail last weekend. For Formula One’s rulers, that was a powerful proof of concept: the paddock can operate there, and it can do so safely.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem moved quickly to set the tone.
“We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” he posted on Instagram, before underlining the governing body’s stance. “We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding grand prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the FIA Formula One world championship. We look forward to welcoming drivers, teams and fans to two iconic circuits for an unforgettable finish to the season.”
Those closing rounds will not decide the main silverware – that drama is already over. Antonelli, just 20, wrapped up the drivers’ crown in Mexico earlier this month, becoming the youngest champion in the sport’s history. Mercedes then sealed the constructors’ title in Brazil, completing the double with races to spare.
Yet there is still plenty riding on the trip to the Gulf. The decision to keep Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the schedule locks the calendar at 23 grands prix and ensures the Formula Two championship will be settled on track rather than in a boardroom.
In F2, Brazilian Rafael Camara carries a seven‑point lead over Red Bull‑backed Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov into the final stretch. Camara, who stepped up for his Formula One race debut with Haas at his home grand prix last weekend, now faces the biggest fortnight of his young career with both a feeder‑series title and his F1 prospects in sharp focus.
Away from the paddock, the political backdrop remains volatile. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said he would hold off on new military strikes against Iran for now after appeals from countries in the region, including Qatar’s prime minister. That pause has given Formula One just enough room to commit to its plan, but the sport has made clear that safety remains non‑negotiable. Should the situation deteriorate, the races can still be cancelled.
For now, though, the circus rolls on. The next stop is the bright glare of Las Vegas on November 21, before the long haul east to a Middle Eastern double‑header that will close a 23‑race marathon and usher in the era of its youngest ever champion on the sport’s new desert stage.
