MotoGP, Qatar Grand Prix in doubt: replacing it an option, but a complicated one | GPOne
· GPOne · 2026-08-12T08:16:11+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Formula 1 has given itself until mid-September to decide the fate of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. The conflict in the Middle East is putting the two races at risk, and the possibility of their cancellation cannot be ruled out; the Bahrain Grand Prix, on the other hand, has been replaced by the Malaysian Grand Prix, where the race will take place in October.
MotoGP is also facing some issues with its calendar, albeit on a smaller scale. In fact, only one Grand Prix is in doubt: the Qatar Grand Prix, which has been moved to early November, completing a three-race stretch with Australia and Malaysia. To make room on the calendar, the Portuguese and Valencian Grand Prix have also been rescheduled.
However, it is not yet certain that the Qatar round will be able to take place as scheduled due to the situation in the region, as confirmed to motorsport.com by MotoGP Group CFO Carlos Ezpeleta.
“We only have one race in the Middle East, and from a commercial point of view, a 21-stop season rather than 22 is clearly sufficient,” explained the Spanish executive. “Having said that, we’re working primarily with Qatar, the promoter, and the authorities to determine whether there’s a desire to hold a Grand Prix at another location. I think it’s something we need to consider, even though it’s quite complicated because we’re at a point of the year when most European circuits are already occuped. Furthermore, from a logistical standpoint, you can’t do everything you want because we have Portugal and Valencia, and it would be after Malaysia. There are weather considerations, restrictions, and the number of circuits that can host MotoGP is limited from a safety point of view. So, we’ll look around, but that's what we're focused on right now with the Qatar GP; I hope we can go.”
The intention is to confirm the race at Losail, but if that’s not possible, it wouldn’t be a disaster—with 21 GPs instead of 22, the season wouldn’t be significantly disrupted. At worst, the Portimao and Valencia race weekends could be rescheduled to their original dates. As for a replacement, however, it would be more complicated—unless we consider a doubleheader at the same circuit (as was done during the COVID-19 pandemic), perhaps at Sepang.