F1 faces a fragile season finale as Gulf uncertainty deepens

Formula 1’s 2026 season is heading toward an unpredictable conclusion as the conflict in the Gulf continues to jeopardize the calendar. The original twenty‑four‑race schedule has already been reduced to twenty‑two following the loss of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which remain officially “postponed” as F1 hoped to relocate at least one of them. CEO Stefano Domenicali recently admitted that time is running out to organise any recovery.

The sport has prepared alternatives, including a race at Portimão or even a double‑header in Baku, a solution used during the pandemic to maintain race numbers. The real concern, however, lies with the final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, both located in regions currently deemed unstable. These events carry some of the championship’s most lucrative hosting contracts, meaning cancellations would create significant financial repercussions despite protective clauses.

F1 is working to safeguard both sporting and commercial interests, but the 2026 finale remains unwritten.