The cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Rally in WRC raises questions about the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix scheduled for the end of the season.
Read more Lewis Hamilton firmly denies rumors of tensions at Ferrari
Pressure is mounting on Formula 1 regarding the end of its 2026 calendar. While the holding of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remains uncertain due to the situation in the Middle East, the FIA has just made an important decision in another of its disciplines.
The governing body and promoter of the World Rally Championship have announced the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Rally, which was to conclude the WRC season from November 12 to 15. A decision motivated notably by the logistical difficulties caused by the persistent uncertainty in the region.
The WRC gives up its trip to Saudi Arabia
The FIA says it has worked for several months with the Saudi Arabian Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the local organizers, and the various concerned parties in order to find a solution to keep the event on the calendar.
These efforts ultimately were not enough. The regional uncertainty and its consequences on logistical organization led to removing the event from the World Championship calendar.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed that all possibilities were studied before making this decision.
“We have worked closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, our member club, the Saudi Arabian Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the WRC promoter, and the various stakeholders to explore all possible solutions so that the Saudi Arabia Rally could take place as planned.”
The FIA president nevertheless acknowledges that the regional situation ultimately made it impossible to maintain the world round.
“However, the ongoing developments in the region mean that the WRC part of the Saudi Arabia Rally will not take place this year. These are never easy decisions, especially after all the work done by the people involved in preparing the event.”
The rally will still take place
The cancellation only concerns the World Championship. The Saudi Arabia Rally is still scheduled to take place on the same dates as part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
The Saudi organizers say they remain able to host the event under good conditions and emphasize that the country’s infrastructure continues to operate normally.
Ben Sulayem also insists that this cancellation does not call into question Saudi Arabia’s future on the WRC calendar.
Read more Charles Leclerc fears a penalty after his huge crash at Monza
“Even though the WRC part of the event will not take place this year, our confidence in the organizers and in the long-term future of this rally remains unchanged.”
The FIA now wants to work towards a return of the World Championship to Saudi Arabia as early as next season.
“Our focus is now clearly on the future. We will continue to work with our partners in Saudi Arabia and the WRC promoter to bring the World Rally Championship back in 2027.”
A decision that puts pressure back on Formula 1
This cancellation comes just over two months before the last two rounds currently scheduled on the Formula 1 calendar. The Qatar Grand Prix is set to take place in Lusail on November 29, before the final scheduled in Abu Dhabi on December 6.
However, the situation of these two races also remains uncertain. The 2026 season has already been heavily disrupted by the situation in the Middle East, notably with the postponement of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix and the reorganization of the event initially planned in Bahrain.
The decision made regarding the WRC does not automatically mean that Formula 1 will follow the same path. The logistical constraints, infrastructure, and organizational conditions are not necessarily identical between the two championships. However, it constitutes a new important element as F1 must quickly determine if its trip to the Middle East can be maintained.
Still no decision for Qatar and Abu Dhabi
Stefano Domenicali had previously indicated that Formula 1 needed a decision around mid-September concerning the last two rounds of the season. The constraints related to transporting hundreds of tons of equipment indeed require anticipating team movements well in advance.
For now, the Formula 1 calendar remains officially unchanged. Qatar is still set to host the penultimate round on November 29 and Abu Dhabi the final on December 6.
A replacement solution is already being discussed in case of cancellation. Imola could notably take over the season finale on December 6, allowing the championship to end in Europe.
On the WRC side, the removal of Saudi Arabia means that the season will finally end much earlier than expected, with the Sardinia Rally from October 1 to 4 as the thirteenth and last round. This change still needs to receive approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
A few weeks before the first major logistical deadlines, Formula 1 now faces a similar decision. The calendar remains unchanged for the moment, but the cancellation decided by the FIA in WRC will only intensify questions around Qatar and Abu Dhabi.