Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix in doubt amid regional conflict

Andrew Benson, the BBC’s F1 correspondent, reported on 3 November that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix were in doubt amid the regional situation and the conflict involving the Houthis. The races were scheduled to close the 2026 season, with Qatar on 27–29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4–6 December.

At that point, F1 still planned to race at both events after receiving security reassurances from several government sources that it should be safe, Benson reported. He also said many people within the sport had reservations about going.

Benson said that if the situation deteriorated over the following week or so, both Grands Prix could be called off and replaced by one event in Imola, Italy, on the Abu Dhabi weekend.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekends had already been cancelled in April as a result of the US-Iran conflict. If Qatar and Abu Dhabi were also cancelled, F1 would have lost four of its 24 events in 2026.