Formula 1 faces a high-stakes decision over its 2026 season finale as security concerns mount around upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has publicly called on the racing series to reconsider visiting the Persian Gulf amid ongoing regional conflicts, creating a direct clash between driver safety concerns and massive financial commitments.
Max Verstappen’s Safety Concerns Over Gulf Races
Max Verstappen has voiced strong opposition to holding the final two rounds of the Formula 1 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Speaking to the streaming platform Viaplay, the Red Bull Racing driver emphasized that while he enjoys visiting the region personally, the current geopolitical climate makes traveling there problematic.
“When you know that the war is very high and some countries might be in conflict with each other, then I think you shouldn’t go there,” Verstappen said on Viaplay, adding that the trip should be avoided “whether there is a contract or not.”
The security situation at the Persian Gulf escalated significantly following military actions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile strikes and ongoing drone attacks by the Houthi movement from Yemen against allied Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. In response to the regional instability, Formula 1 previously relocated the Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia and outright canceled the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Financial Risks and Contractual Stalemates for Formula 1 Management
Despite dropping earlier rounds in the Middle East, Formula 1 has kept the late-season Grands Prix in Qatar—scheduled for late November—and Abu Dhabi—slated for early December—on the official calendar, though a final determination has not yet been reached.
A major factor behind the hesitation from F1 organizers is the substantial financial risk involved in a cancellation. According to a report by The Times, the financial liability largely depends on which party officially calls off the event. If Formula 1 cancels the races unilaterally, the organization risks losing millions of dollars in hosting fees paid by the track promoters. Conversely, if local organizers decide to pull the plug, the financial burden may shift more heavily toward them.
Industry observers expect a definitive decision regarding the status of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds by mid-October.
Potential Alternatives: The Imola Scenario
Should the Persian Gulf rounds be scrapped, Formula 1 executives have weighed alternative venues. The historic circuit in Imola, Italy, has emerged as a primary candidate to host a replacement event.
While Verstappen indicated support for finding an alternative track like Imola, he acknowledged that holding a race there in December presents unique logistical hurdles. Winter weather in northern Italy during that time of year brings maximum temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius alongside a high risk of rainfall.
“That will be a chaos with our rain tires,” Verstappen remarked regarding the prospect of a wet December race in Italy, while still praising the layout as a “spaßig” (fun) track to drive.
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