F1 confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will proceed after Imola halt

F1 confirmed on Tuesday that it had decided in principle to tell Imola to halt preparations, a move that clears the path for Qatar to host its race on 29 November. Abu Dhabi will close the season on 6 December. The decision came after Liberty Media CEO Chang traveled to Lusail to inspect conditions during the MotoGP weekend, which passed without incident. His visit provided a clearer picture of ground-level realities and fed directly into F1’s final assessment. This trip occurred alongside F1 personnel stationed in both Gulf host cities to evaluate the situation directly. According to reports, F1 also relied heavily on travel advice issued by individual governments.

The insurance tripwire

The detail that matters most to the paddock is insurance. F1 has always understood that a formal travel ban would block the events because it would affect insurance policies. Many governments have warned about the risk of rapid escalation and travel disruption, but there has been no outright "do not travel" order for Qatar or Abu Dhabi. An F1 source stated that travel advice still permits travel, travel insurance remains valid, and events are going ahead, citing the MotoGP race in Qatar as proof. The Independent noted that at the height of the conflict earlier this year, UK guidance had advised against "all but essential" travel to these locations. Until the paddock arrives in Lusail, that specific indicator is the one to watch.

Team support and cost

All 11 teams support finishing the season as planned, according to F1. The Imola back-up was not cheap, and reports indicate that F1 had been prepared to underwrite an extra race estimated at around $10 to 15 million so that the season could still end on its original date. That week F1 had to decide whether to approve major infrastructure spending at the Italian track or stand it down. An F1 spokesperson played down the significance of the announcement, stating: "We have constantly said the Middle East was the plan, so none of this is really news or should be a surprise." F1 has said that safety remains its priority and that it will act if things get worse before the races. The organization will not hesitate to pull the plug if threat assessments point to unnecessary risk.