Formula One WILL race in the Middle East as organisers stick with £120m Qatar and Abu Dhabi races despite threat of war

Published: 10:22 EST, 10 November 2026 | Updated: 10:22 EST, 10 November 2026 Formula One will stick to its intended programme that sees the season end in the Middle East, despite the conflict in the region.The sport's bosses had weighed up whether to divert to Italy – to Imola – after the US and Israel opened attacks on Iran in February.But F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are confident security risks will not prevent them staging the closing races in Qatar on November 29 and the final round in Abu Dhabi on December 6.Formula One said: 'Imola has been informed they will not be required as a back-up for the end of the season, and we have informed the teams.'Imola was only an option in the event we didn't go to the Middle East.'We could not have left Imola waiting indefinitely. Therefore, we have informed them today that we will not require them at the end of the season.' Lewis Hamilton has been among the supporters of keeping F1's Middle East races onWhile there was an attraction to seeing Italian Kimi Antonelli granted a 'lap of honour' in Imola, some 20 miles away from where he was born in Bologna, there is a lot of money tied up in holding races in the Gulf – perhaps £120million between Qatar and Abu Dhabi.This scheme is yet subject to alteration if hostilities in the area escalate, though the sport's hierarchy is adamantly keen to see the planned races go ahead as scheduled.Ben Sulayem, an Emirati, and a former champion rally driver, said: 'We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi.'We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding grands prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the Formula One world championship.'We look forward to welcoming drivers, teams and fans to two iconic circuits for an unforgettable finish to the season. See you on the grid.'The Bahrain Grand Prix, delayed from April, was relocated to Malaysia last month after Iranian attacks on the kingdom's US military bases.