Lewis Hamilton has expressed his hope that Formula 1 will proceed with its planned season finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite ongoing uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver said he trusts the sport's leadership to make the right call on whether the two races can safely take place.
I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East. From what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don't have all the information and I don't know what the risk levels are. I trust in Stefano [Domenicali, F1's CEO] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.
F1 is currently maintaining its original calendar with Qatar scheduled for 29 November and Abu Dhabi for 6 December. However, contingency arrangements are in place. According to reporting on 11 September, multiple paddock sources expect Imola in Italy to host the season finale if both Middle East rounds must be cancelled. The decision on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races proceed could slip into October, with the BBC reporting that F1 had initially aimed for a mid-September deadline.
The uncertainty reflects broader concerns within the paddock about racing in the region while the conflict continues. In March 2026, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were already postponed because of the Middle East situation. The Bahrain race has been rescheduled to take place at Sepang in Malaysia on 2-4 October. F1 must deliver at least 23 races annually to meet its commitments to broadcasters, meaning the cancellation of both Qatar and Abu Dhabi would make a European finale essential.
How could the calendar changes affect the championship?
The number of remaining races could significantly influence the title fight. Hamilton currently trails his Mercedes teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine meetings remaining. If the calendar were reduced to eight races, the championship mathematics would shift considerably, potentially allowing the leader to clinch the title sooner than currently anticipated. As things stand, a lead of 100 points after Mexico—five races away—or 75 points after Brazil would be sufficient to secure the championship.
However, a final decision on the season finale is unlikely to arrive until after the title has been decided, at the very least to maintain competitive interest throughout the remaining rounds.
What is the position of the race promoters?
The promoters of both races have expressed confidence that they will proceed as scheduled. Nevertheless, they remain reluctant to formally cancel events because they would still be liable for the race fee payable to F1 if they do so. By contrast, if F1 itself cancels the races, those fees do not need to be paid.
Abu Dhabi has already confirmed musical performances for the event, announcing acts including Zara Larsson, the Script, Imagine Dragons and Lewis Capaldi. However, uncertainty over the race's future was underscored earlier this week when Larsson withdrew from the bill. After responding to a social media post urging her to
cancel your Abu Dhabi showwith the statement
I will not be going to Abu Dhabi, she later elaborated on her decision.
Maybe it came off as a impulsive response to a comment. But I have spent some time thinking about everything and decided that to not do the show aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.
Larsson subsequently confirmed she would not perform at the meeting, though her initial post was deleted.
What happens next?
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on 24-26 September, the next scheduled race on the 2026 F1 calendar. According to , the decision on whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can stage the finale could be delayed until October. The timing carries additional pressure because the 2027 Formula 1 calendar is expected to be published imminently, adding urgency to resolving the 2026 season-ending arrangements.
The FIA continues to monitor the situation while keeping both races on the official calendar for now, according to reporting on 16 September. F1 leadership has indicated that if the Middle East races cannot proceed, the season will conclude in Europe rather than being extended elsewhere.
