Formula 1 to finish season in Middle East

Formula 1 has told the Imola circuit in Italy that it will not be required as a back-up for the two end-of-season races in the Middle East. The sport is pressing ahead with plans to hold the two events in Qatar on 27-29 November and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on 4-6 December, despite the ongoing conflict between the United States/Israel and Iran.

Imola had been asked to prepare for a potential grand prix on the Abu Dhabi dates if the two Middle Eastern races could not go ahead. Imola was asked on Tuesday to stand down preparations - but F1 says that if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates it is still prepared to cancel the two races.

Earlier in the season, races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, both of which had been scheduled for April, were cancelled and delayed respectively following the outbreak of the United States and Israel's war with Iran. F1 says the decision to press ahead with Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which was always the default option, has been taken because the situation in the two countries has not "negatively developed" in recent months.