Max Verstappen has made his position clear over the uncertain end to the 2026 Formula 1 season, insisting that safety should take priority over contractual commitments if conditions prevent the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix from being held securely. With Imola being prepared as a possible alternative, the Red Bull driver also expects a December race in Italy to produce highly unusual conditions.
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain scheduled for November 29 and December 6 respectively on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Formula 1 is continuing to work towards holding both events while preparing Imola as a contingency should the security situation in the Middle East make the planned finale impossible.
Max Verstappen says safety must come before the calendar
Max Verstappen was characteristically direct when discussing whether Formula 1 should travel to Qatar and Abu Dhabi if there are concerns about the regional situation.
“Normally I like going to those countries. But if you know that the war is very close and that some countries are in conflict with each other, then I think you shouldn’t go there. It doesn’t matter whether you have a contract or not,” Max Verstappen told Viaplay.
For the Red Bull driver, contractual commitments cannot determine the decision if the necessary safety conditions are not in place. At the same time, Max Verstappen acknowledged that the final decision is not in the hands of the drivers.
“It’s not up to me. If there is a race, there is a race. Unfortunately.”
The uncertainty could also have consequences for the closing stages of the Formula 1 World Championship, depending on how the final calendar is ultimately structured.
Imola prepares as Formula 1’s backup option
Max Verstappen then turned his attention to the possibility of Formula 1 returning to Italy for an unexpected late-season event.
“Imola is Plan B. I think they’re already building the grandstands,” the Dutchman observed.
Preparations at the circuit are indeed under way, although that does not mean an Imola Grand Prix has been confirmed. Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain Formula 1’s primary plan, with Imola being readied so that an alternative is available if required.
Verstappen expects ‘chaos’ from a December race at Imola
Holding a Grand Prix at Imola on December 6 would also raise an unusual question for modern Formula 1: the weather. Temperatures would potentially be far lower than those normally experienced when the championship visits the Italian circuit, while wet conditions could add another variable.
Unlike Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen does not appear particularly concerned about the prospect.
“I saw that in Imola, around that time of year, the maximum temperature is generally 15°C and it rains a lot. I think with the wet tyres it will be chaos. But I think that’s fine. It’s a nice circuit.”
Rain more than two months in advance is, of course, only a possibility rather than something that can be predicted with certainty. The broader issue for Formula 1 is ensuring that Imola is operationally ready while the championship waits to establish whether its final two scheduled rounds can be held safely.
For now, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain the planned conclusion to the 2026 season. Imola provides the alternative, while Max Verstappen’s position is straightforward: when Formula 1 has to choose between contractual obligations and safety, the latter should come first.
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