Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen has said Formula 1 should not stage its final races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi because of the ongoing military conflict in the region. With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds already dropped from the 2026 calendar, organisers will make a final decision in mid-October. The Dutchman was unequivocal on the question of safety. "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," he said.
Should Qatar and Abu Dhabi be replaced, Italy's Imola circuit would host the season finale, making it the first to be staged in Europe since 1997. Verstappen admitted that racing on a cold, wet track would probably be chaotic, but said that, all things considered, he was fine with the alternative. The final call on the venue rests with Formula 1's leadership, with an announcement expected by mid-October.
