Formula 1 may end 2026 in Europe if Qatar, Abu Dhabi are dropped
NXTbets Pro | Published On: July 29, 2026
F1 Europe fallback
Formula 1 will end the 2026 season in Europe if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races cannot go ahead because of the Middle East conflict, with Domenicali saying the series will wait until mid-September before making a final decision on those rounds. Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar for now and both events are sold out, but F1 has kept contingency plans ready in case the situation does not improve.
Europe is the only alternative under review. Logistics drive that choice, and Brexit-related documentation adds another hurdle. Imola is the leading fallback venue if F1 needs to replace a race. Portimao and Istanbul sit behind it as the other named backup options. Turkey and Portugal are not ready to join the calendar yet, which narrows the field further.
F1 is not looking at North America as a replacement option. A second Las Vegas Grand Prix is not planned. That leaves the European route as the only practical answer if the final two races in the Middle East cannot be staged.
Qatar Abu Dhabi plan
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds are set to follow the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the season-closing triple-header, which makes their status a key part of the late-year schedule. The 2026 Formula 1 season is currently set to run over 23 rounds, so any change at the end of the year would reshape the calendar in a major way.
F1 has already made one move to protect the schedule. The Bahrain Grand Prix has been moved to Sepang, Malaysia, on Oct. 4. That Malaysia round is meant to preserve a 21-race calendar if Qatar and Abu Dhabi are canceled. The move gives F1 a built-in fallback if the Middle East races cannot remain in place.
The schedule work shows how much pressure sits on the final stretch of the season. Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed for now, but F1 has been preparing for every outcome. If the pair stays on the calendar, the season keeps its 23-race structure. If they drop out, the replacement plan keeps the championship moving with a reduced but workable slate.
2027 calendar outlook
Domenicali said the 2027 Formula 1 calendar should be presented as a normal plan this autumn. That marks a return to a more routine timetable after the current round of contingency planning around 2026. F1 is keeping its options open for now, but the longer-range message is clear. The series wants the next calendar cycle to look straightforward once it reaches that stage.
For the moment, the focus remains on the final rounds of 2026 and the stability of the Middle East races. F1 has built a backup path that stays within Europe if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events cannot happen. Imola leads the list of alternatives, with Portimao and Istanbul behind it. The series has ruled out a North American replacement and is not planning a second Las Vegas race.
That leaves a narrow but workable set of choices. F1 can hold the current shape of the calendar if conditions allow, or shift the ending into Europe if they do not. The next key point comes in mid-September, when the series expects to make its final call on Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
