PARIS: The Formula One season will finish in Europe if the planned races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cancelled due to the Middle East war, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali said on Wednesday.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were scrapped earlier this season due to the start of Israel and the United States’ war with Iran.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was eventually rescheduled and will now be held in Malaysia on Oct 4.

Domenicali said F1 would decide whether or not to go ahead with the race in Qatar, scheduled for Nov 29, and the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Dec 6, by mid-September.

“That moment will be not be before the middle of September. For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed,” he told reporters.

“But of course, if the situation will not be cleared the way that we believe it should be, before the middle of September, we will take the decision.

“And in that respect, I just want confirm to you that if this will not be possible, that the end of the season would be in Europe.” There have been persistent rumours in the paddock suggesting an extra Grand Prix could be held at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, or that a second successive race may be staged in Las Vegas, the week after the one already slated for Nov 21.

But Domenicali said that idea had been shelved.

“There was a possibility of having two races in Las Vegasbut we don’t want to ruin a jewel that is growing by undervaluing what we are doing there,” he said.

“And of course, we don’t have to forget that in that period of the year, we are fighting in the US against the NFL.”

Domenicali did not say which tracks in Europe could step in if needed, although the Imola circuit is reportedly the front-runner to host the finale if the Middle East conflict is still ongoing.

The World Endurance Championship announced on Tuesday it would conclude its season in Spain and Italy after cancelling planned events in Qatar and Bahrain.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026