Emilia-Romagna GP threatens: Does the end come for imola?

Emilia-Romagna GP threatens: Does the end come for imola?

Imola, Italien - The future of the Emilia-romagna Grand Prix is on the bracket. From 2026 the traditional Italian race track could be missing in the F1 calendar. This was announced by Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula 1, in a radio interview with "Rai GR Parlamento". Domenicali explained that, given the increasing interest in Formula 1, it was difficult to organize two Grands Prix in one country.

The contract with the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e dino ferrari in Imola on May 18, 2025. This means that the route will no longer get a fixed place in the calendar of the coming season. The contract with Monza, on the other hand, remains until 2031, which also complicated the location for imola.

Hope for a rotary model

DOMENICALI, which himself comes from the Imola region, emphasized that the decision about the future of the route is difficult. He received numerous inquiries from different countries that could potentially contribute to the expansion of Formula 1. However, there is the possibility that Imola remains on the calendar as part of a rotation model of several European venues, which could enable a sporadic return of the route.

Last year the Emilia-romagna Grand Prix on May 19, 2024. The route has a length of 4,909 kilometers and comprises 63 laps. This event is considered one of the highlights of the season, especially because of its history, which goes back to the former San Marino Grand Prix.

The discussion about the whereabouts of Imola in the Formula 1 calendar raises questions about the future of further traditional racetracks in Europe, while Formula 1 aims to expand its global engagement and to develop new markets. The decision about Imola's fate could be crucial for how the racing series will develop in the coming years.