Tuesday the 10th brought important decisions for closing the 2026 Formula 1 season. The category ruled out holding a race at Imola and kept plans for the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, but Max Verstappen still awaits safety guarantees to compete in the Middle East. The future of Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, Ferrari’s problems, and a behind-the-scenes dispute between Cadillac and Alpine were also among the day’s highlights.
The main novelty was the confirmation that Imola will not be used as an alternative for the season-ending race. The Italian circuit and the teams were informed of the decision, since Formula 1 deems it feasible to keep the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races. However, Verstappen remains cautious in the face of the region’s conflict and said he trusts the FIA and the series’ organizers to assess safety conditions. Without Imola, F1 loses a European backup option should the situation deteriorate again.
In the driver market, Nikola Tsolov will have another opportunity to test a Racing Bulls car this week at the Hungaroring. The Bulgarian, who is contesting the Formula 2 title with Rafael Câmara, remains among the options for 2027, while Lawson awaits a decision about his stay. Despite the solid performance of the New Zealander and Arvid Lindblad during the season, the team has not yet confirmed its lineup for the next year.
The Ferrari reappeared in the news after Lewis Hamilton explained the difficulties faced at the Brazilian GP. The Brit revealed that the intermediate tires lost grip quickly, causing a strong oversteer after a start in which he had recovered several positions. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, winner in Interlagos, admitted that McLaren will need to investigate the excessive sliding that made him lose the lead in the opening corners.
Behind the scenes, Cadillac advanced in the hiring of Craig Skinner, a former Red Bull engineer, who is set to begin work on November 18. The arrival of the engineer had been contested by Alpine due to an existing contractual commitment, but the gridlock was overcome. Skinner will contribute to the development of the American team’s car for 2027.
The Tuesday also brought news about engine reliability. The FIA released its third evaluation of the ADUO system and did not grant new homologation opportunities to manufacturers. Meanwhile, Honda confirmed that it is still investigating the source of battery failures that caused Lance Stroll to retire in succession for Aston Martin.
Off the track, the Brazilian Grand Prix posted a substantial rise in television audience. Globo’s broadcast reached 12.3 points, more than double the 5.3 recorded by Band in 2025. The result underscored the impact of the Interlagos event, which featured Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara among the Brazilian drivers on the grid.
