The Imola Mayor / President are ready to bring back the Imola GP to Formula 1 again
The 2026 Formula 1 calendar is already out. F1 is going to bring a new race for the 2026 season. The Madrid Grand Prix is coming to Formula 1 with a new circuit next year. However, the series doesn’t want to expand its current calendar. As F1 is unwilling to go beyond 24 races a season they were going to drop a race for the next season.
In order to add the Madrid Grand Prix, Formula 1 is going to remove the Imola GP from the calendar. Imola Grand Prix was the race at risk for a long time. The famed second race of Italy made it’s return after a decade in 2020. Since then, the race is counting its days in Formula 1. The fact doesn’t change that Imola is a beloved race amongst the fans. It is also, the home race for both- Racing Bulls and Ferrari. The removal of Imola GP was not received very well by the fans. Although, there might still be hope left for the return of the famous race.
It hasn’t even been one day since the release of new Formula 1 calendar. Imola Mayor Marco Panieri and President Michele de Pascale have released an official statement regarding the race and it’s future in F1.
“For the Region and the territory, the path undertaken by Imola and the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna does not end here. We are and were aware of the complexity of the dynamics linked to the calendar and the picture was very complicated from the beginning. The contract signed in 2021 – which few believed possible at the time – envisaged the stable return of the Gran Premio to Imola until 2025.”
“As the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Imola, among the promoting partners, we have truly done everything that could be done in this phase. We have highlighted several times, on several occasions, in different ways, to all the actors involved, the importance and strategic nature of the issue. We did it with transparency, clarity, maximum availability and institutional collaboration.”
The race was a big deal for the region of Emilia-Romagna. They got a chance to show their active participation and management after a long time. Formula 1 themselves have appreciated the active enthusiasm displayed by the authorities for the Imola GP. However, the fact maintains that Imola’s track is among the dangerous circuits in F1 despite its popularity.
Even though fans and authorities want Formula 1 to return to Imola, the current calendar is not suitable for the race. Many of the circuits in the 2026 have a long contract ahead. Formula 1 will have to replace another race if they want to add Imola. The only probable option seems to be Monaco. But the it’s one of the most historical Formula 1 races. It won’t be as easy for them to part ways with their heritage.
