Lead
Formula 1 will end the season in Europe if races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot be held, and has set a mid-September deadline for a decision, according to the sport's CEO, Stefano Domenicali. Domenicali made the remarks to reporters on Wednesday, as the sport navigates the fallout from the war in Iran.
Coverage Comparison
Both ABC Australia and Al Jazeera reported the same core details: the mid-September deadline, the possibility of ending the season in Europe, and the cancellation of races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The two outlets differed slightly in how they described the cause of the cancellations. ABC Australia attributed the cancellations to "the war in Iran," while Al Jazeera specified "the US-Israel war on Iran." Both quoted Domenicali directly on the deadline and the contingency plan.
Domenicali said: "We will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop and we will take the decision at the right time." He added: "The deadline for the decision of any possible change of the actual calendar is the middle of September."
"For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. By the way, they are already sold out," he said. "If this will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe because we cannot go in other places."
Key Claims
- Formula 1 will end the season in Europe if races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot be held due to the war in Iran, as reported by both ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
- A mid-September deadline has been set for a decision on the schedule.
- Races scheduled for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in April were called off due to the war in Iran. Malaysia's Sepang circuit will host the Bahrain race on October 4, with the Gulf kingdom paying most of the costs, according to both sources.
- The FIA-sanctioned World Endurance Championship (WEC) has moved its last two rounds in Qatar and Bahrain to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya and Italy's Monza in October and November.
- Imola circuit is a possible replacement for the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races. Domenicali confirmed that Imola is on the list of candidates, noting it is his birthplace and home to Ferrari and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. Informed sources have touted Imola as a leading candidate despite the weather at that time of year.
- The 2027 calendar has yet to be published, but Bahrain was expected to take back its slot as season-opener from Australia in March.
- Portugal and Turkiye will return as new rounds on the calendar next year.
- Domenicali also mentioned the possibility of holding two races in Las Vegas to end the season, but said "we don't want to ruin a jewel that is growing," and noted added competition with the NFL season.