Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali stated that the 2026 championship could end in Europe if conflict in the Middle East prevents the season-closing races from being held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Domenicali noted that if these races cannot take place, the season will conclude in Europe because the sport cannot move to other locations.
The races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are currently confirmed and sold out. The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for 29 November, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 6 December. A final decision regarding the schedule is expected to be made by the middle of September.
The potential schedule changes follow the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the war between the US, Israel, and Iran. In response to the Bahrain cancellation, Malaysia will host a race in September.
Engine regulations and technical concerns
The 2026 season will feature new engines with a nominal 50-50 split between electrical power and internal combustion. These engines have faced criticism from drivers for reducing their ability to drive at the limit, with Fernando Alonso referring to fast corners as 'charging stations'.
There is a lot of action on the track. People are loving it.
Domenicali acknowledged that taking steps to reduce the impact of energy recovery on driving over the next two seasons is the right thing for the sport. He also requested that drivers remain constructive in their comments regarding these changes.
F1 aims to have an outline plan for the next engine rules by the end of this year. While most engine manufacturers are open to a V8 architecture, Mercedes and Audi intend to use turbochargers. Separately, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has threatened to impose engine rule wishes unilaterally regarding 2031.
Calendar shifts and racing commitments
Formula 1 remains committed to staging a full 24-race season in 2026. However, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has withdrawn the Qatar 1812 KM from its 2026 calendar. While some reports suggest planned rounds in Qatar and Bahrain have been replaced by races in Spain and Italy, other reports indicate Malaysia is replacing Bahrain.
The nominal split between internal combustion and electrical power in 2026 engines.
Domenicali expressed determination to hold another race following the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 21 November.