What the rest of the F1 2026 calendar could look like with Qatar and Abu Dhabi under major threat

The F1 calendar could be set for a major change as the war in the Middle East continues to leave a degree of uncertainty over the final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

F1 returns this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa as the race for the Drivers' Championship heats up ahead of the summer break.

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is setting a relentless pace at the top of the drivers' standings, but a 16th-placed finish at the British Grand Prix saw him surrender ground to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton last time out.

Leclerc won his first race of 2026 at Silverstone, while Hamilton's third-placed finish closed the gap to just 32 points at the top as he continues to chase down a record-breaking eighth World Drivers' Championship title.

An exciting race is anticipated at Spa, especially after the FIA confirmed that five straight-line zones have been installed on F1's longest track as one of several changes made this season.

At the start of the campaign, a record-equalling 24 Grands Prix were scheduled, but that was reduced to 22 when races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled in March due to conflict in the Middle East.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali did confirm at the start of July that he is confident of restoring one of them, and the identity of that race is expected to be the Bahrain Grand Prix.

"If there is something that we can announce also related to the possibility of seeing if there is any space for what has not been done so far, we're going to do it, in the right moment and the right conditions," Domenicali told Sky Sports.

"That is really the hope, because if all the conditions are right, we're going to go ahead with our plan. If there is a chance, why not?"

The ongoing war between US/Isreal and Iran also leaves the final of the campaign, Qatar (27 - 29 Nov) and Abu Dhabi (4 - 6 Dec) in major doubt.

Although a ceasefire was agreed a while ago, there has been an escalation in tensions between the two sides, and naturally, this news has prompted discussion over what the F1 calendar could look like.

What the 2026 F1 calendar could look like with key changes

Bahrain is being considered for a return to the F1 calendar, and the race could be sandwiched between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Singapore Grand Prix on October 2-4.

But for that to happen, F1 needs to be comfortable by the end of July that the situation in the Middle East is calm enough for them to consider scheduling a race then.

According to Motorsport Italia, F1 bosses were planning to announce the new date for Bahrain next weekend, but renewed strikes on Iran put paid to those plans.

While there is a potential solution to restore that race, it remains unclear when action in Qatar and Abu Dhabi could take place, and a decision will be made later down the line.

F1 have until mid-September to finalise major calendar changes, including rescheduling previously cancelled races or confirming alternative venues for the end of the season.

The report also notes there is the possibility of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix having a second race on October 2-4 and October 16-18, respectively, if the race in Bahrain cannot be restored, though it is unclear as to how realistic that possibility is.

Here is how the two versions of the 2026 F1 calendar could look if the above changes are actioned.

*Denotes F1 Sprint event.

F1 2026 race schedule: version one

• Round 10: Belgian Grand Prix, July 17-19
• Round 11: Hungarian Grand Prix, July 24-26
• Round 12: Dutch Grand Prix, August 21-23*
• Round 13: Italian Grand Prix, September 4-6
• Round 14: Spanish Grand Prix, September 11-13
• Round 15: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, September 25-27
• Round 16: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, October 2-4 (rumoured second race)
• Round 17: Singapore Grand Prix, October 9-11*
• Round 18: Singapore Grand Prix, October 16-18 (rumoured second race)
• Round 19: United States Grand Prix, October 23-25
• Round 20: Mexico City Grand Prix, October 30-November 1
• Round 21: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, November 6-8
• Round 22: Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 19-21
• Round 23: Qatar Grand Prix, November 27-29
• Round 24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, December 4-6

Should F1 cancel the Qatar Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to conflict in the Middle East, there is talk of the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Imola Grand Prix replacing both races - though, again, that appears to remain speculation at this particular stage.

F1 2026 race schedule: version two

• Round 10: Belgian Grand Prix, July 17-19
• Round 11: Hungarian Grand Prix, July 24-26
• Round 12: Dutch Grand Prix, August 21-23*
• Round 13: Italian Grand Prix, September 4-6
• Round 14: Spanish Grand Prix, September 11-13
• Round 15: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, September 25-27
• Round 16: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, October 2-4 (rumoured second race)
• Round 17: Singapore Grand Prix, October 9-11*
• Round 18: Singapore Grand Prix, October 16-18 (rumoured second race)
• Round 19: United States Grand Prix, October 23-25
• Round 20: Mexico City Grand Prix, October 30-November 1
• Round 21: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, November 6-8
• Round 22: Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 19-21
• Round 23: Portuguese Grand Prix, November 27-29 (rumoured to replace Qatar Grand Prix)
• Round 24: Imola Grand Prix, December 4-6 (rumoured to replace Abu Dhabi Grand Prix)