Domenicali confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi races remain on F1 calendar

Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix remain on the schedule despite the conflict in the Middle East. According to reporting by the Guardian, he confirmed plans for the season's final two rounds, with Qatar scheduled for 29 November and Abu Dhabi for 6 December.

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Domenicali discussed the calendar with Canal+ and Sky Sport Italia while attending the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang in Malaysia. He said the decision to retain both Gulf events reflected the information currently available to Formula One. He also said teams and drivers were receiving updates on the situation, placing his assurance in the context of the sport's current assessment.

The conflict has already disrupted this year's championship. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were cancelled earlier in the season following the start of the US-led war with Iran, the Guardian reported. This weekend's event in Malaysia carries the Bahrain Grand Prix name and replaces the cancelled Bahrain meeting. Sepang previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix between 1999 and 2017.

Domenicali also said 99% of tickets for Abu Dhabi had been sold and described strong enthusiasm for the season finale. The Guardian reported that moving the Emirati race to Imola in Italy had been among the options discussed. That possibility was not presented as an agreed change: Domenicali's stated position remained that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi dates were confirmed.

Verstappen has publicly taken a different view. Speaking to ViaPlay during the week, the Red Bull driver said he normally enjoyed visiting both venues but did not believe Formula One should compete there with a war nearby and countries in conflict. He argued that contractual commitments should not determine that decision, while acknowledging that the choice was not his to make.

The calendar comments came as Verstappen secured his first pole position of 2026 at Sepang. In its separate qualifying report, the Guardian said he finished three-tenths of a second ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. The result also gave Red Bull its first pole of the season, with Hamilton taking second place in qualifying.