Imola reacts with « bitterness » to its withdrawal from the F1 2026 calendar
Imola has issued a firm and determined response after being withdrawn from the Formula 1 calendar for next season.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will be replaced by a second race in Spain, to be held in Madrid in 2026. The 2026 F1 calendar, which will feature 24 races for the second consecutive year, was officially unveiled on Tuesday morning, confirming the anticipated absence of Imola.
Read also:Formula 1 unveils the 2026 season calendar
Imola removed from the 2026 calendar
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit made its return to F1 in 2020, as part of the reshuffled calendar following the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosted Grand Prix events for five consecutive years. Its contract expires at the end of 2025 and has not been renewed, but local authorities express their desire to see F1 return to Imola.
In a statement signed by Mayor Marco Panieri, the city of Imola expresses its feelings: The provisional calendar for the 2026 Formula 1 season has been announced, and Imola is excluded from it.
This is news that we were informed of, but it understandably raises questions, disappointment, and bitterness. In recent years, our region has demonstrated its ability to host an extraordinary event, with record numbers.
The mayor continues by emphasizing the attachment of fans and drivers to this Grand Prix: « The Imola Grand Prix was one of the most loved and appreciated, as evidenced by the feedback after each edition. Its uniqueness was evident: combining track racing with the charm of the area, starting with a historic center to experience. »
Despite the disappointment, the message is resolutely combative: « We want to be very clear: this announcement does not mark the end of the story. We have always been aware of the complexity of the dynamics related to the schedule, which was complicated from the start. The contract signed in 2021, considered unrealistic by many at the time, planned for the stable return of the Grand Prix to Imola until 2025. »
He concluded by recalling the efforts made: « As the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Imola, we have done everything possible. We have repeatedly emphasized the importance and strategic significance of this event to all concerned parties, with transparency, clarity, and full willingness for institutional collaboration. »
The CEO of F1, Stefano Domenicali — himself a native of Imola — had already hinted that the Grand Prix could be integrated in the future on a rotating basis with other circuits.
