The evolving options for the f1 2026 finale: qatar and abu dhabi remain scheduled but imola is gaining traction
Formula 1 is approaching the final part of the 2026 season with significant uncertainty still unresolved regarding its conclusion. Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain officially scheduled as the last two rounds of the 2026 season, set from November 27-29 and December 4-6 respectively. However, ongoing issues in the Middle East mean the situation is being carefully monitored, and Imola is emerging as a potential alternative venue.
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Teams expect a final decision by mid-October. If it becomes impossible to hold the Middle Eastern races as planned, Imola is among the solutions being considered to close the season back in Europe. Ahead of the Bahrain GP in Malaysia, the topic naturally came up with the drivers, whose opinions vary significantly on the prospect of hosting the f1 finale at Imola in December.
hamilton: “imola is beautiful, but not an exciting finale”
Lewis Hamilton openly shared his doubts about Imola serving as the season-ending race. The seven-time world champion appreciates the Italian circuit but would prefer the season to finish as originally planned. “Imola is a beautiful track to drive on. However, honestly, it would not make for a particularly exciting season finale there”, Hamilton explained.
The British driver especially pointed out the timing of the race: “It could be very cold, with challenging conditions and limited daylight, so it might not be the best for entertainment value.”
Hamilton also emphasized his lack of detailed knowledge about the geopolitical situation and stressed that safety and peace must come first: “I mainly hope for peace and that we can race those last two events, because they are very nice circuits. I especially like Abu Dhabi personally”.
russell prefers abu dhabi to conclude the season
George Russell expressed a similar view and reaffirmed his trust in the decisions to be made by Formula 1 and the FIA. “For my part, I have full confidence that Formula 1 and the FIA will make the right decision, so I am fine with whatever choice is made.”
The British driver would particularly like to avoid losing any races on the calendar: “I want to race as many events as possible, so I would prefer to keep both additional races”.
Russell also loves Imola but considers Yas Marina a better venue for the finale: “Abu Dhabi has always been a great season-ending event with a genuine final-race atmosphere. I love Imola as a circuit, but I don’t think it has the same vibe.”
bottas: “imola deserves f1, but not in december”
Valtteri Bottas took a different angle, stating that Imola deserves a permanent place on the calendar, regardless of whether it is used as an emergency substitute. “I think it deserves a spot. It’s one of those old-school tracks that most people like.”
However, Bottas is much less enthusiastic about the idea of an Imola race in December: “I wouldn’t be a big fan of that. I’ve heard about the typical weather then, with morning fog, early sunset, and low temperatures.” He also addressed another factor: “And I don’t know if you have heard about the Italian tax issues. Because of that, honestly, no driver is particularly eager to race in Italy”.
hülkenberg jokes: “let’s bring snow chains and hand warmers”
Nico Hülkenberg also mentioned the tax matter: “It probably concerns me more than some other drivers.” The German, who lived nearby, joked about the cold expected in the paddock: “Besides that, I’d say we should bring snow chains and hand warmers”. “An Imola race in Europe in December would be cold. I lived nearby for a few years and winters there are definitely cold, that’s for sure.”
pérez unconcerned about weather, verstappen: “there are worse places”
Sergio Pérez prefers to wait for FIA and Formula 1 to assess the situation in the Middle East: “In situations like this, we must simply let the FIA and Formula 1 make the safest decision.” The Mexican is not opposed to the idea of Imola hosting the finale: “It wouldn’t necessarily be bad. Last year I tested with Ferrari in November and the weather was great”.
“Anything can happen. I guess it could be cold, even very cold, but it’s hard to tell.” Max Verstappen is more pragmatic and shows little concern about the cold or shorter daylight hours.
“There are worse places to be in winter than Milan. Sure, it will be a bit colder than summer and dark earlier, but I think we’re all smart enough to organize so we don’t race in the dark”. On the tax topic raised by other drivers, Verstappen concluded simply: “As far as taxes go, you just pay the taxes”.
conclusion: imola remains a potential contender for the f1 2026 finale
For now, the official 2026 calendar still includes Qatar and Abu Dhabi as the final two races. The final decision is expected by mid-October, with Imola remaining a possible European alternative for the f1 2026 finale.
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