F2 CEO expects West Asia races to go ahead with title still up for grabs

File Photo: Two Grand Prix remaining in Formula Two, with the winner yet to be decided. | Photo Credit: Getty

Kimi Antonelli is likely to be the 2026 Formula One champion before the FIA makes any ‌definitive decision on whether to go forward with the final two races of the season in ​West Asia. However, Formula Two wouldn’t want its ⁠drivers’ title to be decided ahead of time, with changes in the standings still possible.

Brazilian Rafael Camara, whose move to Formula One with Haas was confirmed on Thursday, is seven points clear of Bulgarian Red Bull prospect Nikola ‌Tsolov in the F1 feeder series, with only the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds remaining in late November and early December.

Both Grands Prix have been ‌the subject of speculation since the start of the Iran war, and drone and ‌rocket attacks on Gulf capitals and infrastructure. The official line is that ⁠they remain on the calendar as scheduled unless events force a change.

A mid-September deadline for a decision on whether the races will go ahead has now turned into a possible announcement if they are cancelled. For the F2, ​this means that the title could be decided in ‌Baku in September.

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Formula Two chief executive Bruno Michel told reporters that such an outcome would be a big blow, but he remained confident both Grand Prix would go ahead.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s not going to ‌happen. Saying ‘by the way, the champion has been declared ​months ago, but we couldn’t crown him’ would not be very good. So yes, we absolutely want to finish the championship as it is ⁠planned,” he said.

While Italy’s Imola circuit would be ready to step in as the likely Plan B on December 6, offering Mercedes’ 20-year-old Italian driver Antonelli a triumphant home finale after a ‌dominant season, both West Asia rounds are preparing as usual.

“It’s happening. It’s been planned. Nothing has changed. We’re very excited. We’re very much ready and, yeah, it’s going to be, hopefully, another record-breaking year for us,” said Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Abu Dhabi promoter Ethara.

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Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this month that “the calendar is confirmed: the last two ‌grands prix will be in Qatar and Abu Dhabi” but senior people within the F1 paddock have ​also pointed to the regional situation being fluid.

The Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix was shelved in March due to conflict in the region. However, Qatar and ⁠Abu Dhabi are two of the most lucrative in terms of hosting fees for F1’s commercial rights holder, Liberty Media.

“Formula One is completely aware of all ‌the situation and what needs to be done to make sure we exercise (carry out) those two races in the best conditions, which will be the case. We are really looking forward to having those last two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” said ​Michel.

Published on Oct 16, 2026

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