Formula 1 is implementing the plan to conclude the season with at least 22 Grands Prix, despite the conflict in the Middle East. After the announcement of the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place in Malaysia on the first weekend of October, attention now turns to the championship finale. A decision on the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events will be made by mid-September, without which the season would return to Europe, potentially also to Imola.
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The alternative plan
On the subject, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, spoke personally during a mid-season press conference: “Given how we are structured, we will take as much time as possible to see how the situation evolves and will make a decision at the right time, which will not be before September. As of today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed, where everything is already sold out. However, if the situation is not sufficiently clear by mid-September, then we will decide. I can confirm that if [the Middle East] is not possible, the season finale would be in Europe.”
Domenicali did not want to commit to possible venues: “There are some possibilities on the table, but I don’t think it’s right to make promises given the current situation. I hope it won’t be necessary, but if circumstances do not allow us to go there, we would finish the championship in Europe.” To a direct question, however, the Formula 1 CEO confirmed: “Imola is among the options, but it has not been decided. It is not already the chosen place.”
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The alternative plan
Domenicali commented with a touch of irony on concerns about what the weather conditions might be like in Europe in December: “Let’s hope there is no snow. I remember many years ago at the Nürburgring there was a dusting of snow that then turned into rain. We hope it doesn’t happen, but if it does, we would try to react. Pirelli will not be ready to have winter tires, but maybe they should work on it [jokes]. Seriously speaking, though, I think the weather will allow us to race in Europe in early December.” The climate, in fact, should not be worse than that of Nevada, where Formula 1 has been racing at night for three years: “Statistics tell us that at that time of year temperatures in Europe are less harsh than those in Las Vegas when we race there. No one, however, knows what temperatures there will be and what the weather will be like. We can only share the numbers.”
For the season finale, there was also a proposal for a double race right in Las Vegas, a hypothesis later discarded for various reasons. Domenicali explains: “I can assure you there will not be another race in the United States. There was a possibility of holding two races in Las Vegas, but we did not want to devalue what we are doing there, a jewel that is growing. Let’s not forget that at that time of year in the USA we clash with the NFL, an important sport watched by many. We must avoid a situation where we go against something that is very popular in the United States.”
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