Komatsu confirms mid-October as 'last call' for Qatar and Abu Dhabi as Imola prepares

The final two rounds in Qatar (November 29) and Abu Dhabi (December 6) are in doubt due to an ongoing conflict in the region. Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled earlier this year due to the conflict, with Bahrain taking the unusual decision to host its round in Malaysia rather than lose its calendar slot. The UK's Foreign Office states the situation "remains unpredictable," while other series have all cancelled their races in the region.

Komatsu told reporters that Domenicali is now targeting mid-October to give teams clarity. "I believe that Stefano is targeting to tell us in mid-October so we all know what the situation is," the Haas boss said. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies added that Imola is on standby, but stressed there were some practical considerations, such as the availability of crews to build the team motorhomes in the paddock.

Binotto identified the main challenge as organisational: "The main challenges are more organisation and logistics," adding that Imola's average temperature in early December is actually warmer than Las Vegas during its late-November Grand Prix.

Team principals noted that the crews who manage European motorhome structures typically move to winter employment once the season ends, meaning replacements would need to be found for a December event.

Imola's organisers have been given the green light to build the grandstands and make preparations as if the race in Emilia-Romagna will take place.

F1 is fully paying for the preparations, and Imola will not face any financial risk regardless of the outcome. Holding a single round in Italy would ensure F1 meets its obligations with sponsors and broadcasters to provide a 22-round calendar.

As GPblog has previously reported, a potential season finale in Imola would need to start significantly earlier than the traditional 3:00 p.m. European slot due to limited winter daylight, with the expectation of a start time between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. However, for now, F1 strongly emphasises that Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain Plan A, but time is running out.