Imola F1 Circuit Releases Statement After 2026 Calendar Exit

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
With the growing global demand to host Formula One races, the sport decided to drop Italy's iconic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola from the 2026 calendar to make way for Madrid.
With the number of Grands Prix in a year capped at 24, F1 faces a challenging task to retain historic circuits while introducing new venues from across the world. While a plan for rotational circuits is on the cards, the absence of Imola from the 2026 calendar raised eyebrows.
Now, Imola Mayor Marco Panieri has issued a statement, revealing that the announcement was not a surprise, and hopes that the circuit will be included in the calendar in the future. He said:
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas...
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes and the rest of the field on the opening lap during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. More"The provisional calendar of the Formula 1 Grand Prix for the 2026 season has been announced, from which Imola is excluded.
"This is news that we were aware of and that understandably generates questions, disappointment and a sense of bitterness on the outside, because in recent years our territory has proven to be able to host an extraordinary event with record numbers.
"In fact, the Grand Prix in Imola was one of the most loved and appreciated by fans and drivers, as was also forcefully demonstrated in the days following the event, and its uniqueness in the world was evident: that of uniting the race on the track with the surrounding territory, starting from a historic center to be experienced.
"However, we want to be very clear: this news is by no means the final word. 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."
The statement also confirmed that funds were allotted for the 2026 season to make up for the Grand Prix in 2023 that was cancelled due to floods. The mayor added:
"Furthermore, the territory, as the Emilia-Romagna Region and as the Municipality of Imola / Consorzio territoriale Con.Ami, had confirmed its availability for over a year and allocated the necessary resources in the budget also for 2026, as had been requested by the other institutional and sporting partners after the commitment made to recover next year the missed 2023 edition due to the dramatic flood events.
"This territory, when it makes a commitment, is used to respecting it and being ready when needed: as in 2020, when, in a world blocked by COVID, the Imola circuit made itself available to help a Formula 1 in difficulty.
"However, this is not the time for controversy, buck-passing and resignation. Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility and resume discussions for a return to the calendar. This is why in recent days, since May 26, we have asked the Government and the sports authority for an Institutional Round Table to precisely examine the terms and methods of support and joint work to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix back to Imola.
"To those who live and love Imola, Emilia-Romagna and this Grand Prix, we say that in a moment in which it would be easy to give in to useless polemics and disappointment, it is instead the time for tenacity and increasingly constructive commitment from everyone. The game does not end here and up until now we have done things that only a few years ago seemed impossible.
"We continue to believe in it, with conviction and clarity, with the pride of a territory that, together with other institutional partners, has demonstrated its ability to dream big and concretely build opportunities."
It remains to be seen if Imola will find a spot on the F1 calendar in 2027.