F1 stands down Imola backup as Qatar and Abu Dhabi races remain on schedule

Formula 1 has told Italy's Imola circuit to stop preparing as a replacement venue for its season-ending Middle East races, according to BBC Sport. Qatar remains scheduled for November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi for December 4-6, although the sport says both events could still be cancelled if the regional security situation deteriorates.

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BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reported that Imola was stood down on Tuesday after being asked to prepare for a possible grand prix on the Abu Dhabi weekend. The contingency had been drawn up in case the two planned events could not take place amid the continuing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Holding the original races had remained F1's preferred course.

An F1 spokesperson told the BBC that safety would remain the deciding consideration if conditions worsened before the events. Explaining its current position, F1 said the situation in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates had not deteriorated in recent months. It cited government advice permitting travel, valid insurance, the staging of other events and a return to normal business activity. Those were F1's stated grounds for proceeding, rather than a guarantee against further disruption.

F1 also said all teams supported finishing the season at the scheduled venues. Qatar hosted a MotoGP race the previous weekend, the BBC reported, providing a recent example of international motorsport taking place in the country. MotoGP and Formula 1 are owned by the same US group.

The championship has already changed its calendar because of the conflict. Saudi Arabia's race, originally scheduled for April, was cancelled, while the Bahrain event was postponed. According to the BBC, the Bahrain Grand Prix was eventually staged at Malaysia's Sepang circuit in October. Those earlier changes form the backdrop to the preparations Imola had been making for a potential replacement race.

Despite F1's position, the BBC reported that several senior figures within the sport had privately expressed unease about travelling to the final two rounds. Their concerns included the venues' proximity to areas around the Strait of Hormuz where missile strikes continued. The report also noted recent cancellations or postponements of events in neighbouring Saudi Arabia following attacks. For now, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar, with F1 retaining the option to cancel if circumstances change.