Here's the thing: Formula 1 has officially slammed the door on Imola serving as a season-ending backup venue for 2026. As Motorsport.com Brasil reports, the governing body confirmed on Tuesday that the championship will stick to its original plan and head to the Middle East, keeping both Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the calendar, provided there is no exponential escalation of the war in Iran.
The regional instability kicked off in late February when the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran, immediately throwing motorsport schedules into chaos. Formula 1 took a direct hit when the race in Saudi Arabia was cancelled, while the Bahrain round was delayed before eventually taking place in Malaysia. Throughout the uncertainty, the championship kept Imola on standby as a contingency plan for the first weekend of December in case Lusail and Abu Dhabi couldn't host.
Eu, pessoalmente, quero correr. Não importa onde, mas quero correr. Agora, irei para onde eles nos mandarem ir.
That backup option is now completely dead. November 10 had been set as the absolute deadline for Formula 1 to give Imola a definitive answer regarding circuit preparations, and that response never came. Instead, the season will wrap up with the initially planned triple-header of Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, as current travel insurance policies and government travel advisories still allow for it.
That said, the door isn't entirely bolted shut against reality. The category acknowledges that the situation could shift before December arrives, and leadership insists safety will come first if the conflict deteriorates. Team bosses are keeping a level head about the whole ordeal, placing full trust in the direction coming from Formula 1 and the FIA.
“Confio que eles tomarão a melhor decisão para todos nós,” commented Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in Mexico. “Eu, pessoalmente, quero correr. Não importa onde, mas quero correr. Agora, irei para onde eles nos mandarem ir.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also weighed in during Friday's press conference in Interlagos, backing the leadership's reliance on international guidelines, local government directives, and travel restrictions. Wolff even drew a parallel to MotoGP, noting that Lusail successfully hosted its motorcycle Grand Prix last weekend despite both Yamaha teams sitting out due to the geopolitical climate. If travel guidelines hold and safety permits, the circus moves east. If the landscape turns dangerous, leadership has promised to protect the people traveling.
F1
F1
