F1 teams understand they will learn in mid-October whether the season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will take place as scheduled. The 2026 season is due to finish with a back-to-back races in Qatar (November 27-29) and Abu Dhabi (December 4-6) but those events have appeared uncertain for a number of months owing to the conflict this year in the Middle East, which started in February. The two events remain on the calendar, with currently runs to 23 races, with Sky Sports News understanding that the intention remains for them to take place.

Italy's Imola circuit is thought to be the contingency option to close the season if it is deemed that the Middle Eastern rounds cannot go ahead, with F1 having more time before a final decision is made. An F1 Commission meeting took place on Monday and, speaking in Thursday's press conference at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, team chiefs said they had been given clarity on when a decision would be taken by. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said: "I believe that Stefano [Domenicali, F1's president] is targeting to tell us in mid-October so we all know what the situation is.

I believe that Imola is getting ready in case we have to do it [there]. But hopefully things can stay as a baseline and we can go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. That'd be really good." Audi counterpart Mattia Binotto added: "We discussed it during the F1 Commission last Monday.

Mid-October is the last call for such a decision.".