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F1 still undecided on on Middle East races; opts against another Las Vegas event

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 01 Aug 2026 01 Aug 2026

New Delhi: Last Sunday, it was announced that Malaysia will join the 2026 calendar to replace the Bahrain GP, and the race will go ahead in October. In the meantime, F1 is exploring options for other races in the region. In fact, they have already considered Las Vegas to be featured a second time this year, but that plan has been abandoned. 

The motorsport is now preparing alternative plans to ensure the season finale takes place in Europe if the scheduled Qatar and Abu Dhabi races cannot be held due to ongoing geopolitical concerns.

Both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled earlier in the year following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. Although a ceasefire initially opened discussions about bringing Bahrain back to the calendar, renewed tensions forced F1 to look for alternative solutions. 

Doubts have also emerged over the final two rounds of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for November 29 and December 6 respectively. F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali said the FIA will wait until mid-September before making a final decision, giving the races as much time as possible to proceed. Both events are currently planned to go ahead and have reportedly already sold out.

If the Middle East races are cancelled, F1 is expected to close the season in Europe, with Italy’s Imola circuit currently considered the leading option. Turkey’s Istanbul Park and Portugal’s Portimão are also being evaluated. Mind you, both venues may require additional preparations to host a race at short notice.

A second Las Vegas race was considered as a possible replacement, but F1 decided against expanding the event. Domenicali noted the championship wanted to protect the value of the Las Vegas Grand Prix rather than risk reducing its impact by holding two races at the same venue in a short period. The timing would also have placed F1 in direct competition with major US sporting events, especially the NFL season.

Las Vegas joined the F1 calendar in 2023, with F1 itself playing a major role in promoting and developing the event. The race has since become one of the championship’s biggest attractions, with its contract recently extended until 2037.

If Imola hosts the season finale, the race would take place in colder European conditions. During this period, the average December temperatures are around 8°C. However, Domenicali believes the weather would still be suitable for racing, comparing it to the cooler conditions experienced during the night race in Las Vegas.

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