F1 opts against second Vegas race if Qatar, Saudi Arabia are moved

WEB DESK: Formula One has ruled out staging consecutive races in Las Vegas if the season-ending grands prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are forced to relocate due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for Nov. 21, followed by the Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 29 and the Abu Dhabi season finale on Dec. 6. While F1 has contingency plans in place, CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said the sport will not add another race in the United States to replace any Middle East events.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Domenicali said any relocated races would instead be held at a venue in Europe, with Italy’s Imola circuit emerging as a leading candidate, according to The Athletic.

He added that Formula One will wait until mid-September before deciding whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races need to be moved.

The calendar has already been affected by regional instability this season. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, originally scheduled for April, were cancelled on March 14, creating a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

Last week, Formula One confirmed that Malaysia will host a race in October as a replacement for the cancelled Bahrain event.

“I can guarantee that we will not do any other race in the US,” Domenicali said, citing the challenge of competing with the NFL for attention during the American fall sports season.