Domenicali: F1 2026 Finale Shifts to Europe If Middle East War — SkimNews
SkimNews Take
F1's decade-long pivot toward Gulf-state races concentrated the calendar in a volatile region, meaning a single regional conflict can now force a return to European venues like Imola, whose own calendar slot was recently uncertain.
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Stefano Domenicali said the 2026 F1 championship will end in Europe if the Middle East conflict makes Qatar or Abu Dhabi untenable, with a final decision required by mid-September.
- Qatar and Abu Dhabi races remain confirmed and sold out, but Imola is the strong front-runner to host the relocated finale if either is called off.
- F1 has already cancelled the April Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix due to the US-Israel war with Iran; Malaysia will host a September replacement to hit the 21-race minimum for commercial contracts.
- Domenicali rejected running two Las Vegas races in November, citing the need to protect the event's growth and avoid head-to-head competition with the NFL in the US.
- The 2027 season is set to open in Bahrain after two years in Australia, with contingency plans already drafted should the Middle East war still be ongoing.
- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing for a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines by 2030 or 2031 and has threatened unilateral imposition once teams' contracts expire in 2030, while Mercedes and Audi want turbochargers retained.
Why it matters: The calendar contingency exposes how a single regional war has already cost F1 two Middle Eastern races in one season and now threatens the marquee finale venues, while the engine rules battle between Ben Sulayem's V8 push and the manufacturers' turbo preference will shape F1's cost structure and road-car relevance through the end of the decade.
Ask SkimNews
