Behind Formula 2’s decision to “beef up” the Baku weekend with an extra race lies a far more serious issue than simple entertainment value — genuine uncertainty over whether the final two rounds of the calendar, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will take place at all.

The reason is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has cast doubt on whether the two season-ending races will go ahead as originally planned. Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel is, for now, maintaining the official line, stating that the championship will revert to its usual weekend format for the final two rounds of the 2026 season, scheduled to take place in Doha and Yas Marina.

Behind the scenes, however, expectations in the Formula 1 paddock point in a different direction — sources say there is growing belief that the two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi could be cancelled outright, with Imola already being discussed as a reserve venue for the season finale, scheduled for 6 December.

The problem is that while a possible move to Imola is technically feasible for Formula 1, it remains entirely unclear whether such a scenario would also be workable for Formula 2. Without an official decision announced before the start of the Baku round, there is a real risk that the championship title could end up being decided not on track, but through a press release.

The current situation makes things especially sensitive for Nikola Tsolov, who leads the standings by a margin of just a few points over his closest rival — mathematically, he will not be able to secure the title on track in Baku unless the final rounds are dropped from the calendar entirely. For the Bulgarian championship leader, this means the decisive title battle could ultimately hinge not only on his own performance, but also on decisions made far away from the racetrack.