Revealed: F1 cut-off date for Imola as 2026 season finale location

With the end to F1’s 2026 season still in doubt, a new date for a crucial contingency plan has been revealed.

With conflict in the Middle East threatening to erupt again, it’s unclear whether the championship can conclude in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Yesterday, Williams team boss James Vowles said the F1 and its FIA governing body had an “A plan, B plan and C plan” with regards to this 2026 finale.

Now a paddock source has revealed when the decision for the location change has to happen.

Qatar and Abu Dhabi contingency plan revealed

The recent armed conflict in the Middle East and continuing tensions mean travelling to Qatar and Abu Dhabi looks like it might be untenable for F1 this year.

Some have speculated the season could end elsewhere, or early finish in Las Vegas, originally slated as the third-to-last race of the season on Nov 19-21.

Several F1 bosses, including Audi’s Mattia Binotto and Haas’s Ayao Komatsu, said in September they thought the Italian Imola circuit will be the replacement for Abu Dhabi at least, if needed.

Now, veteran grand prix journalist Adam Cooper has the last-chance to make a decision on moving to the European venue is November 10.

The Imola circuit is seen as a classic venue, and has been on and off the calendar since the 1980s.

What the F1 paddock says on Middle East crisis

Yesterday, Williams boss James Vowles was questioned on finishing the season in the Middle East, and said teams were in close contact with F1 and the FIA.

“What I would say is F1 and the FIA have been very good at providing us updates, and they have an A plan, B plan, C plan,” emphasised Vowles.

“This is not a decision they're taking lightly, as you would imagine, as a result of it.

“We do trust their process, because they are displaying to us a very large depth of analysis behind what they're doing.”

He was supported in that stance by Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies.

“We actually do trust the FIA and F1, because that's the reality in all seriousness, it is a serious topic, [...] and it is typically the FIA and F1’s task to approach it in the most complete way with a full set of informations and to give us the direction on that.

“And this is why - us not doing the same effort as them in terms of assessing the situations - we fully rely on them to make the right call.

"I have to say that history has shown that they have made most of these calls very right in the past.

“So in terms of deadlines, I think all the teams are in the same boat, and we have the logistic is very much channelled through F1 and the FIA anyway.”

In contrast to this, drivers such as Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, have come out against racing in the region.

"It's very difficult to be convinced right now, because there are still things happening, plenty of things happening in the Middle East," said the Spaniard, before then being forced to release a more diplomatic statement on the matter by his Williams team afterwards.

Verstappen meanwhile, was in agreement with Sainz’s original stance.

"Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn't go.