Formula 1 to finish season in Middle East

Formula 1 has told the Imola circuit in Italy that it will not be required as a back-up for the two end-of-season races in the Middle East.

The sport is pressing ahead with plans to hold the two events in Qatar on 27-29 November and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on 4-6 December, despite the ongoing conflict between the United States/Israel and Iran.

Imola had been asked to prepare for a potential grand prix on the Abu Dhabi dates if the two Middle Eastern races could not go ahead.

Imola was asked on Tuesday to stand down preparations - but F1 says that if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates it is still prepared to cancel the two races.

Earlier in the season, races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, both of which had been scheduled for April, were cancelled and delayed respectively following the outbreak of the United States and Israel's war with Iran.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was eventually held at Malaysia's Sepang circuit in October.

"If the situation develops negatively in the coming weeks before the events in the Middle East, we will not hesitate to do the right thing and the safety of everyone will always be the priority," an F1 spokesperson said on Tuesday.

F1 says the decision to press ahead with Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which was always the default option, has been taken because the situation in the two countries has not "negatively developed" in recent months.

Travel advice from governments still allows travel, insurance is valid, events are taking place and business has returned to a normal level in both countries, it said, adding that the teams are all supportive of concluding the season as planned.

A MotoGP race was held in Qatar last weekend. That sport is owned by the same US group that owns F1.

Despite the decision, a number of senior figures in F1 have expressed disquiet to BBC Sport about the idea of going to the Middle East for the races, as both are close to areas in the Straight of Hormuz where missile strikes are still taking place.

And Saudi Arabia continues to be the target of attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Several events in Saudi Arabia, which borders Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following those attacks.

However, there is recognition that F1 faces a difficult decision. The two countries pay large fees for their events, and both are heavily ingrained in the fabric of the sports as sponsors and investors.

The Qatari sovereign investment fund, for example, is a part owner of the Audi team, and Abu Dhabi is the same for McLaren.