News Summary
- Bruno Michel insists Formula 2 will finish its 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite continued uncertainty over the Middle East events.
- Rafael Câmara leads Nikola Tsolov by seven points, with Alexander Dunne also firmly involved in the championship fight.
- If both rounds are cancelled without replacements, Câmara would become champion based on the Baku standings, a scenario Michel says he wants to avoid.
Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel has insisted that the 2026 championship will conclude in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, rejecting suggestions that the final two rounds could be cancelled and leave newly confirmed Haas Formula 1 driver Rafael Câmara as champion without another race taking place.
The Frenchman made his position clear during a video conference with reporters, as uncertainty continues over the championship’s final events because of the security situation in the Middle East. Qatar remains scheduled for November 27–29, followed by Abu Dhabi on December 4–6, with Formula 2 intending to accompany Formula 1 at both venues.
Câmara currently leads the championship with 207 points, seven ahead of Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov and 18 clear of Alpine-backed Alexander Dunne. The Brazilian took the lead during the extended Azerbaijan weekend in September, but the possibility of losing the remaining rounds has created an unusual situation in which the title could be decided by the calendar rather than another on-track contest.
Michel was adamant that Formula 2’s plans had not changed.
“For the moment – and I think it’s completely clear – Qatar and Abu Dhabi are on the calendar, and we are going to finish the championship in Qatar and in Abu Dhabi,” Michel said.
His comments follow months of disruption to the championship’s schedule, including the cancellation of its original Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds and the introduction of replacement events in North America.
Michel rejects prospect of crowning Câmara without another race
The most sensitive question concerns what would happen if Formula 2 were unable to compete again this season.
Câmara moved into the championship lead after Baku, where the series held an additional Feature Race to compensate for earlier calendar disruption. The Brazilian inherited victory in the final race following a penalty for Dunne, establishing a seven-point advantage over Tsolov.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO explained in its championship analysis after Baku, the Invicta driver has not mathematically secured the title because two rounds remain on the official calendar.
If both events were cancelled without replacements and the existing classification became final, Câmara would be crowned champion based on the results already completed.
Michel acknowledged that such an outcome would be undesirable, particularly because it could mean announcing a champion weeks after the final race had taken place.
“That would be very sad, let’s put it that way,” Michel said when asked about the possibility.
He insisted that Formula 2 remained confident the championship would be completed as scheduled, rather than treating the September round in Azerbaijan as the effective season finale.
The CEO’s position does not amount to a guarantee that the events will take place. The final decision remains dependent on the wider situation and the ability of Formula 1 and its support championships to operate safely.
Formula 2 follows F1’s plans for Qatar and Abu Dhabi
Michel explained that Formula 2 is working closely with Formula 1, whose own season is scheduled to conclude with the same two Middle Eastern events.
The championship has faced uncertainty since the regional conflict disrupted the original calendar earlier in 2026. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds were removed, prompting Formula 2 to introduce replacement events in Miami and Montreal.
The changes allowed the series to maintain its planned number of rounds while providing drivers with additional opportunities to compete.
Formula 1 has continued preparing for Qatar and Abu Dhabi, although Imola has been discussed as a contingency venue if the championship cannot complete its final events in the Gulf.
For Formula 2, the situation is more complicated. A replacement Formula 1 race would not automatically guarantee that the junior category could participate, given its separate sporting, technical and logistical requirements.
Michel nevertheless stressed that the championship expects to follow the original programme.
“We’re following Formula 1 on that,” he explained, expressing confidence that the necessary arrangements would be made for the final two rounds.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also maintained that Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar, while acknowledging the need to monitor developments.
For now, no cancellation or replacement event has been officially announced for Formula 2.
Câmara, Tsolov and Dunne remain in the title fight
The uncertainty has particular significance because the 2026 Formula 2 championship remains closely contested.
Câmara leads with 207 points, followed by Tsolov on 200 and Dunne on 189. Gabriele Minì is fourth with 163, while Dino Beganovic and Noel León also retain mathematical possibilities if both remaining rounds take place.
With 78 points still available across Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the championship remains open to six drivers.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. CÂMARA | Invicta Racing | 207 | — |
| 2 | N. TSOLOV | Campos Racing | 200 | -7 |
| 3 | A. DUNNE | Rodin Motorsport | 189 | -18 |
| 4 | G. MINÌ | MP Motorsport | 163 | -44 |
| 5 | D. BEGANOVIC | DAMS Lucas Oil | 137 | -70 |
| 6 | N. LEÓN | Campos Racing | 133 | -74 |
The complete Formula 2 standings after Baku show how Câmara overturned an 11-point deficit during the Azerbaijan weekend to take control of the championship.
The Brazilian’s position has become even more significant following Haas’s confirmation that he will make his Formula 1 debut in 2027.
Câmara will replace Esteban Ocon alongside Oliver Bearman, completing a rapid progression through the junior categories after winning the Formula Regional European Championship in 2024 and the FIA Formula 3 title in 2025.
His promotion means he will move to Formula 1 next year regardless of whether he secures the F2 championship.
For Tsolov and Dunne, however, the remaining races represent an opportunity to challenge for the title and strengthen their own positions in the international driver market.
Extra Baku race was introduced amid calendar uncertainty
Formula 2 had already taken steps to compensate for the possibility of further disruption.
The Azerbaijan round featured an unusual expanded format, with two qualifying sessions, one sprint and two Feature Races.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported when the revised Baku schedule was announced, the additional race increased the number of points available during the weekend and created another opportunity for drivers to influence the championship standings.
Michel subsequently confirmed that Qatar and Abu Dhabi would return to the conventional Formula 2 format, featuring one qualifying session, one sprint and one Feature Race per round.
That remains the planned structure for the final two events.
The situation has also affected drivers outside the title fight. Colton Herta, who left IndyCar to pursue a potential Formula 1 opportunity with Cadillac, has questioned whether Formula 2 will race again this year after a difficult season with Hitech.
Herta’s uncertainty prompted further questions about the calendar, but Michel reiterated that the championship intends to complete both remaining rounds.
When are the final Formula 2 races of 2026?
The official calendar continues to list the final two rounds as follows:
| Round | Circuit | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Lusail, Qatar | November 27–29 |
| 14 | Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi | December 4–6 |
Both events are scheduled to feature a sprint and a Feature Race.
The championship will therefore remain on a lengthy break following Baku unless an official calendar change is announced.
For Câmara, the remaining rounds would provide an opportunity to complete his Formula 2 career with another championship before moving to Haas.
GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue covering the title fight, the status of Qatar and Abu Dhabi and the final championship results through its Formula 2 coverage.
