F1 chief issues ominous warning over remainder of season with two races facing cancellation

FORMULA ONE chief Stefano Domenicali has revealed the 2026 season will end in Europe if conflict in the Middle East does not ease. Currently, F1 is due to have its final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the latter of which has hosted the season finale since 2014. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said F1 could move its season finale to Europe Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Abu Dhabi has hosted the F1 season finale every year since 2014 Credit: Getty However, motorsport chiefs could be forced into cancelling those races and looking at alternative arrangements, with Domenicali confirming the season will end in Europe if travelling to those circuits is deemed unsafe. Speaking on a conference call on Wednesday, the 61-year-old said: “We will take the maximum time to see how the situation develops; we won’t decide before the middle of September. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “Today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed and are already sold out. “If the situation is not clear before the middle of September, we will take the decision. “If the races are not possible, the end of the season will be in Europe because we can’t go to other places. “There are some possibilities on the table, but it’s not right to make some promises. That’s the situation of today. “I hope it will not be the case – but if it is, we’ll finish the championship in Europe.” Earlier this season, F1 were forced to call off the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Grands Prix, before squeezing Bahrain back into the calendar for the start of October – although the race itself will be hosted by neighbouring Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK F1 2026 RACE CALENDAR: ALL THE INFO YOU NEED It is understood Imola, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, is the most likely candidate to host the finale in the event F1 decides to relocate the final races of the season. Turkey and Portugal, tracks both returning to the F1 calendar from 2027, are also in the running before any decision is made. Domenicali added: “We are creative enough to keep the calendar alive. “This is not a long-term approach; we need to be credible and consistent. The best travel deals for F1 NOTHING comes close to the thrill of a live Grand Prix – and YOU can be there to see it all. Get the full F1 experience with these unbeatable deals. 🇳🇱 HOLLAND – 20 to 25 Aug – From £1,089pp 🇮🇹 ITALY – 3 to 8 Sept – From £789pp 🇦🇿 AZERBAIJAN – 22 to 27 Sept – From £1,399pp 🇸🇬 SINGAPORE– 7 to 14 Oct – From £1,999pp 🇺🇸 AUSTIN, USA – 21 to 26 Oct – From £2,799pp 🇶🇦 QATAR – 27 to 29 Nov – From £1,049pp 🇦🇪 ABU DHABI – 4 to 6 Dec – From £2,049pp See ALL our F1 travel offers HERE *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Best sport travel offers HERE are our top picks of the best sport travel trips this summer. We have teamed up with some of the UK’s finest travel firms to come up with these offers. 🏎️ SEE the Italian Grand Prix with tickets, flights and 5 nights in a hotel for just £789pp. – – MORE DETAILS HERE 🏇 TREAT yourself to a trip to York Ebor with £20 off hospitality – – MORE DETAILS HERE 🎯 WATCH the world’s finest darts players go head to head at Butlin’s Minehead at the PDC Championship Finals — MORE DETAILS HERE * If you click on a link we will earn affiliate revenue. “I really hope the war [in the Middle East] will allow us to go back to a normal situation. “What we did with Bahrain and Malaysia is fantastic. “But for me as a human being, I hope the situation will allow us to host races in the places we have selected in our championship.” Kimi Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ championship entering the summer break following last weekend’s Hungary GP, which was won by defending world champion Lando Norris. Mercedes teenage star Antonelli has a 50-point gap to second place Sir Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ championship. The next race will come in the Netherlands at Zandvoort on August 23. Comment now