Can the championship survive the Iran war’s shadow? F2 boss Bruno Michel says the Qatar and Abu Dhabi finales will not be scrapped, even as the conflict looms.
The clash, sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February, has unsettled the Middle East. One ripple effect is the reshuffling of race dates, with Bahrain and Saudi stops swapped for events in Miami and Montreal alongside F1.
Both F1 and the promoters hope to keep the meetings on track, wary of the financial hit of a unilateral cancel. Yet a backup plan is in place: Imola could host a December weekend if the two Gulf races fall through.
F2 responded by tacking an extra Baku race onto its September roster, mirroring F3’s Madrid add‑on that covered the lost Bahrain round – a clear hedge against further cuts.
For my money, the schedule will hold firm. Michel insists the plan is unchanged: “Right now it’s crystal clear – Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar, and we’ll finish the season there.”
He adds, “We’re aligning with Formula 1. The top series fully understands the situation and is working to ensure those two events run under the best possible conditions.”
“With a thrilling title fight among three drivers, we’re eager to cap the year in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Michel says, highlighting the depth of the field.
Bruno Michel, F2 & F3 CEO
A casual remark from Colton Herta hinted the season might end abruptly. “Not sure if this is the last race or if we have more, but we’re treating it like we have two left,” he told reporters in Baku.
We ran the comment by Michel and asked about substitute races if Qatar and Abu Dhabi vanished. The French executive stayed firm: “Qatar and Abu Dhabi will not be cancelled.”
“Drivers always have opinions, but I can confirm we intend to finish the season there, just as Formula 1 plans to do.”
When pressed about a possible premature champion declaration – which would favor leader Rafael Camara – Michel replied, “That would be tragic, and it won’t happen.”
He continued, “Announcing a champion a month early would be a disgrace. We’re committed to ending the series as scheduled.”
New Haas recruit Camara leads with 207 points, ahead of Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov (200) and Alpine protege Alex Dunne (189).
Those three are the only ones with a realistic shot at the title if an extra round appears, while Gabriele Mini, Dino Beganovic and Noel Leon retain slim chances should Qatar and Abu Dhabi proceed as planned.
We want your opinion! Will the next season’s calendar adapt to any further disruptions?
What would you like to see on the series?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Team