Updated

Formula 1 will go ahead with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix on 27-29 November and 4-6 December, and has stood down Imola as backup. The decision was taken despite the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran, which began in the earlier part of the season. F1 told the Imola circuit in Italy, which had been asked to prepare for a possible Abu Dhabi grand prix, that it was no longer needed. F1 said the situation in Qatar and the UAE had not "negatively developed" in recent months, citing government travel advice that still allows travel, valid insurance, events taking place and business back to normal levels, and said the teams support finishing the season as planned. A spokesperson said F1 would not hesitate to cancel the races if the situation worsened. BBC Sport reported that several senior F1 figures have voiced unease about going to the Middle East, as both host countries lie near areas of the Strait of Hormuz where missile strikes are still taking place. Houthi rebels in Yemen are also still attacking Saudi Arabia, and several events there have recently been cancelled or postponed. BBC Sport also noted that both countries pay large fees for their events and are closely tied to the sport as sponsors and investors, with a Qatari sovereign fund part-owning the Audi team and Abu Dhabi part-owning McLaren. Earlier this season, the Saudi Arabian race was cancelled and the Bahrain race was held at Sepang in Malaysia in October.