F1 prepares Imola as 2026 finale backup while Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain plan A
Formula 1 is preparing Imola as a possible host for its 2026 season finale. However, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are still scheduled to take place and remain the preferred plan for ending the season.
Reports from multiple outlets say Formula 1 is making preparations for Imola to stage the final race of the 2026 season. This contingency work is linked to uncertainty over where the championship will conclude.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on the calendar in theory, and F1 has stressed that those two races remain its primary plan at this stage. At the same time, the series is also getting ready for the possibility that one or both events could be cancelled.
The issue comes as the championship heads into its final phase, with three triple-headers currently listed on paper. Against that backdrop, the question of where the 2026 season will ultimately end remains unresolved.
Sources (3)
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