Formula 1 has committed to holding the final two rounds of the 2026 world championship in the Middle East or not at all.

The series had made contingency arrangements to relocate the final round it Imola in Italy if it decided the risks posed by the war in Iran meant it should not proceed with its races in the Middle East. Multiple reports now claim F1 has told Imola it will not be required to hold a race.

The world championship will resume at Las Vegas in the USA next week. Following that it is due to race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and Yas Marina in the United Arab Emirates on the following weekends.

The series cancelled its grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier this year due to the war between Iran and the USA. It later held an event using the ‘Bahrain Grand Prix’ title at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

The political situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. US president Donald Trump this week suggested he would not escalate its military campaign in the region, but has made similar comments since beginning his war in February, only to subsequently launch further strikes. The US retains a significant military presences in the region and moved more troops there last month.

However Moto GP, which like F1 is owned by Liberty Media, raced in Losail on Sunday. It postponed its Qatar round in April due to the war.

Four bikes were missing from the field as Yamaha did not participate. Most of the series’ riders expressed concerns over visiting the country and asked the championship to provide extra guarantees for their security.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended Moto GP’s decision to race in Qatar. He criticised riders who expressed concerns about racing there, saying they “know nothing” about the situation.

Many television broadcasters also opted not to send their staff to the region.

The 2027 F1 season is due to begin in the Middle East with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next March. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told investors last week “the disruption we experienced in the Middle East this year does not change our long-term regional strategy and ongoing partnership with our promoters.”

“This year, we currently remain scheduled to complete our calendar season and at this stage, continue to plan to finish the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” he added. “We will continue to monitor the situation. As always, the safety and security of everyone in the sport will remain our first and foremost priority.”

Many other series have cancelled events in the region due to the war in the Middle East. The World Endurance Championship called off its planned rounds in Qatar and Bahrain, replacing them with races in Italy and Spain. The 2027 Dakar Rally, previously held in Saudi Arabia, will take place in Africa. The 2026-27 Asian Le Mans series, which previously raced at Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina, will take place in Europe under the name ‘Winter Le Mans Series’.

This article will be updated.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

Browse all Formula 1 articles