One of these three races won’t be on next year’s F1 calendar

Formula 1

9th January 2025, 7:158th January 2025, 21:48 | Written by Keith Collantine

The 2025 Formula 1 season is still weeks away but next year’s grand prix schedule is close to being finalised.

Yesterday F1 announced it had reached a new deal with the Belgian Grand Prix promoters to return to Spa-Francorchamps next year.

With a new race in Madrid due to join the schedule next year, that means 22 of the 24 slots on the 2026 F1 calendar have been accounted for. Three races on the current schedule are yet to ink deals for next season. So which of them is most at risk of missing out?

Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Imola

Carlos Sainz Jnr, Ferrari, Imola, 2024 — Imola’s F1 future looks shaky

The Covid-19 pandemic handed many European venues an opportunity to temporarily join the F1 calendar. The Nurburgring, Autodromo do Algarve and Mugello all temporarily hosted races.

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But only Imola successfully used its race as a platform to secure a longer-term deal beyond the disrupted 2020 and 2021 seasons. F1 handed it a deal to host races until at least this year.

As a result Italy now has two rounds of the world championship, as it previously did between 1981 and 2006. But that may not last.

Italy’s other F1 venue, Monza, has heritage on its side. It has only been absent from the F1 calendar once since the world championship began. Monza will continue to hold races until at least 2031 having extended its deal last year.

But what of Imola? Its 2023 race did not go ahead due to flooding, and the promoters were hopeful that would entitle them to a place on the 2026 calendar. That is yet to be confirmed, however.

Beyond that, a possibility exists for Imola to return as a part-time race. Yesterday Formula One Management announced the Belgian Grand Prix will only be held in odd-numbered years from 2027, leaving open the possibility F1 could return to Imola in 2028 and 2030.

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Mexican Grand Prix, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024 — There won’t be a home driver on the Mexican Grand Prix grid this year

Red Bull’s decision to drop Sergio Perez was a blow to the promoters of the Mexican Grand Prix, as there will not be a home driver on the grid for this year’s race. It remains to be seen how significantly the loss of Perez will affect ticket sales for the race, as F1 has had at least one Mexican driver in its field every year since the race returned to the F1 calendar in 2015 after a 23-year absence.

Given the loss of a ‘banker’ star draw such as Perez, it would be no surprise if the promoters got cold feet about the costs of bringing F1 back. They have other options to showcase local talent in top-level series: NASCAR will race at the track for the first time in June, bringing Mexican Daniel Suarez. IndyCar has raced there before and would bring Monterrey’s Pato O’Ward if they return.

However there is one key factor in the race’s favour if they hope to continue hosting F1. Claudia Sheinbaum, who helped agree the last deal to keep the race going when she was mayor of Mexico City, was elected the country’s president in October.

Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas Strip Circuit

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Las Vegas Strip Circuit, 2024 — F1’s blast down the Las Vegas Strip looks here to stay

The Las Vegas Strip Circuit does not officially have a deal in place for F1 to continue racing in 2026, but there are few obstacles to the event securing a contract extension. After all, this is the only round of the world championship promoted by Formula One Management itself.

F1 announced a three-year deal for the race beginning in 2023. However the city later gave F1 permission to continue using the public roads it requires for its races until at least 2032. This approval is only granted for “the week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday in November”, so the race will continue to be held in the same calendar slot.

It would therefore be a surprise to see the Las Vegas Grand Prix drop from the calendar. Although there is some local pressure from businesses who are unhappy about the disruption it causes, it is not likely to jeopardise a contract extension for a race F1 has invested significant sums in launching.

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25 races?

There is an alternative to F1 getting rid of one of these races: It could extend the calendar yet again.

Formula One Management CEO Stefano Domenicali has repeatedly stated he does not wish to go beyond 24 races. But the F1 calendar has been extended so many times in the past it would be foolish to rule out the possibility it could happen again.

The various agreements which bind FOM, the FIA and the teams are up for renewal at the end of this year, so the opportunity for the calendar to be expanded beyond the current maximum exists.

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Keith Collantine

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34 comments on “One of these three races won’t be on next year’s F1 calendar”

Jere (@jerejj)
9th January 2025, 7:39

Most likely Imola, & as FOM renegotiated the timing matter for the Monaco GP, they could equally do the same with Las Vegas, as that would give greater flexibility for race calendar construction.
Being hell-bent on the week before Thanksgiving shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
He’s indeed said repeatedly that the GP amount will remain at 24 for the long term & of course, nothing will change in this regard as long as he doesn’t say differently, but expecting a change to the (default) maximum beyond the renewal point regarding the various agreements is quite pointless.
1. Johns
  9th January 2025, 14:08
  
  Vegas only exists, becuase it occurs on the slowest weekend. No vegas hotel would support it on any other weekend; because vegas would have to kick out a high gross convention.
  1. Jere (@jerejj)
    9th January 2025, 15:10
    
    Is the weekend before Thanksgiving really the city’s slowest weekend annually?
    I never knew if indeed true.
    1. El Pollo Loco
      9th January 2025, 16:34
      
      It doesn’t surprise me. Thanksgiving is an even a more family centric holiday than Christmas and unlike Christmas or New Years, very few people are going to have enough time off work to take an extended, out of town trip.
      
      Anyway, it goes without saying Imola will be cut. It’s ingenious to even pose this as a “we’ll have to see which it is” news story.
      
      -Liberty didn’t just spend more than a billion dollars to buy land, build a track and make LV some of marquee marketing event just to slash it.
      
      -The Mexican GP is one of the most well attended events on the calendar and even without Checo, F1 is popular among Mexicans + the GP attracts tons of South & North Americans. That and it still has a contract.
      
      …meanwhile, Imola only reappeared as a substitute race and has always been on the cusp of being dropped since we returned there. So, gee, I wonder which is going…
      1. El Pollo Loco
        9th January 2025, 17:51
        
        it’s disingenuous* (lol, ingenious)
      2. Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
        10th January 2025, 18:50
        
        Liberty did, however, spend over a billion dollars alienating a lot of people in Las Vegas, some of whom have the power to prevent an extension of the current contract.
Bleu (@bleu)
9th January 2025, 8:16

With Perez gone I don’t think Mexico has that much interest to hold a GP for some time. And while Noel León had some solid performances in F3 past year he’s not a surefire F1 driver in the future.

There hasn’t been too many memorable events although the high altitude gives one uniqueness factor to the event inside the F1 calendar.
1. Ankita
  9th January 2025, 18:32
  
  Interesting that you bought up Noel Leon. I watched him last year in F3 and he impressed me. He put up great fights with an arguably less competitive team. Let’s see how he fares this year. However, in the most optimistic of scenarios, you will not see him in F1 before 2027.
MichaelN
9th January 2025, 9:00

Imola and Mexico City don’t add much to the calendar. They’re slow tracks, and other than the DRS aided squabbles in Mexico’s turn four (which too often end with drivers just going off track) there’s not much battling at these tracks.

Mexico might no longer want to pay now that Pérez is no longer on the grid, but northern Italy is one of the richest regions in Europe so they’ll likely be able to foot the bill as long as they want.
1. Jungle
  9th January 2025, 9:39
  
  The stadium section instead of Peraltada never really did it for me either.
2. Jere (@jerejj)
  9th January 2025, 10:03
  
  MichaelN The indication from Mexico is that Checo’s absence won’t have an impact & Imola is still one of the most-threatened current circuits.
  1. MichaelN
    9th January 2025, 10:13
    
    I saw late last year that Mexico City wanted to renew its contract. Federico Gonzalez’ certainly picked up on FOM’s desired talking points (better on-track action, new generation of fans, events around the race) but I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
    
    A race in Mexico is great, its just disappointing its on such a slow track.
3. anon
  9th January 2025, 11:30
  
  You seem to be living in an alternative reslity then, as Imola is not a slow track – the average speed of the races in dry conditions is around 218kph, only fractionally slower than, say, Silverstone (around 222kph average speed in race trim), or Spa for that matter (around 224kph), whilst being faster than other circuits you have praised for their speed, such as Interlagos (average race speed there being, at best, 210kph in dry conditions, though more recently they’ve been closer to 200kph).
  
  In terms of average speed, it’s in the top third highest out of all tracks on the calendar and is classified as a high speed circuit due to it’s high average lap speed.
  1. Jere (@jerejj)
    9th January 2025, 12:26
    
    anon Not quite. Imola is the outright tenth-fastest current circuit.
    Here’s the list for the ten fastest current circuits & the fastest dry qualifying lap time (preferably from the same season) is the only meaningful & truly comparable reference for the purpose because race averages have quite a lot of circumstantial asterisks, so they can easily give a misleading idea.
    Therefore, the outright speed order defined by the fastest race weekend lap time-average lap speed combo, i.e., mostly the pole or otherwise fastest qualifying lap time is as follows using the 2024 times for reference:
    
    Monza: 1:19.327 – 262.896 km/h
    Jeddah: 1:27.472 – 254.097 km/h
    Albert Park: 1:15.915 – 250.290 km/h
    Silverstone: 1:25.819 – 247.120 km/h (earlier rain impact on track conditions)*
    Spa-Francorchamps: 1:42.260 – 246.571 km/h (FP2)
    Losail: 1:20.520 – 242.280 km/h
    LV: 1:32.312 – 241.827 km/h
    Red Bull Ring: 1:04.314 – 241.701 km/h
    Suzuka: 1:28.197 – 237.028 km/h
    Imola: 1:14.746 – 236.432 km/h
    Montmelo: 1:11.383 – 234.862 km/h
    1. Jere (@jerejj)
      9th January 2025, 12:41
      
      Sorry, eleven fastest. I simply miscounted.
      1. El Pollo Loco
        9th January 2025, 16:38
        
        And it “feels” like a somewhat slow track to boot. Probably because basically almost the entire track consists of medium speed turns with no big straights. That and the fact passing is impossible means cars often just coast around protecting their tires.
Jungle
9th January 2025, 9:26

Of the three if Imola drifted away I’m pretty sure most would not be too disappointed. Unlike Spa.

The cars are too big for it now anyway.

Tamburello will never be what it was due to the creek behind it so the run off can’t be expanded.
1. MichaelN
  9th January 2025, 10:16
  
  If anyone can divert a creek or river, surely it’s the Rom… Italians!
  
  Alternatively, perhaps it’d be possible to learn from the Americans and make a slightly banked Tamburello without a run-off. A care sliding along the barrier will lose a lot of speed. But I suppose the memory of Senna will forever make people hesitant about restoring that corner.
  1. some racing fan
    10th January 2025, 7:11
    
    That corner should never be restored pre-1995. However the chicane just before Tosa where Ratzenberger was killed is unnecessary.
2. MacLeod (@macleod)
  10th January 2025, 8:23
  
  A river is a great runoff area …. while the Romans (or the Dutch) would easy change the river bank/loop I don’t think the Italians are going to fund that…
  
  So expect both circuits are going to be dropped while Las Vegas will stay.
  1. Jungle
    10th January 2025, 10:27
    
    I saw many years ago a show that I think it was about Senna. They talked about how Senna and Berger were actually at Tamburello sweeper, think it was pre 94 obviously, but a few years after Bergers fiery accident their. From what I remember they were looking from the barrier through the trees and down at the creek/river concerned but realise there was no apparent solution to expanding the run off area. I’m sure the irony is not lost on anybody….
SteveP
9th January 2025, 9:51

I believe F1 promote the Vegas GP themselves, and they have just spent a large sum setting up GP Plaza – I don’t think Vegas GP is dropping off any time soon (sadly)

So, it’s time to make a bid pushing your choice between a second Italian GP vs. a 4th GP on the North American continent
1. Jere (@jerejj)
  9th January 2025, 10:04
  
  Unless all those court implications from affected businesses impact the event’s long-term viabiliy.
2. Zach Bigalke (@bigalke)
  9th January 2025, 10:33
  
  If either Mexico or Vegas goes, that would make it four North American GPs instead of five. (Montreal, Miami, Austin, Vegas, Mexico City)
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
9th January 2025, 13:10

I love Imola as a track. It’s such a shame the cars can’t race on it. Hopefully Vegas gets binned. Don’t really mind Mexico.
David (@nvherman)
9th January 2025, 14:20

As I don’t care for many non-European circuits, and I especially don’t care for the explosion of street circuits, I’d like to see Las Vegas dropped from the calendar. I do like the Mexico City circuit though, so would like to see that staying.
Jedda and Losail could both also be dropped as far as I’m concerned.
1. some racing fan
  10th January 2025, 7:13
  
  Have you heard of any non-European circuits? Or are you talking about the ones used for F1?
  1. David (@nvherman)
    10th January 2025, 16:20
    
    I’m talking about the ones that are used for F1, or have been in the recent past.
    
    Such as:
    Sakhir in Bahrain
    Jeddah Corniche
    Las Vegas
    Lusail, Qatar
    Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
    
    Those are the ones I particularly dislike.
    
    There are of course others that produce great racing, or have been on the F1 calendar for at least a significant portion of the time that I’ve been following F1 (started watching in 1989, when I was 12).
    
    Suzuka and Sao Paolo should always be on the calendar, and there should always be a round in Australia, where I’m quite happy with Albert Park. Same with Canada
    Of the newer circuits, I do like COTA.
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
9th January 2025, 16:07

Of the 3 i’d rather Vegas or Mexico.

Imola is and always has been one of my favourite circuits so i’d prefer to see that stay on the calender. Such a wonderful circuit to watch the cars lapping, Even with the chicanes it has a nice flow and a ton of character and it’s just a joy to watch cars lapping which is for me far more important than number of overtakes.

I watch this sport to enjoy watching the cars lapping the tracks as well as seeing circuits that actually challenge car/driver and for me those aspects will always be more important than anything else including number of passes, especially given how low quality most of them are nowadays with DRS & rubbish tires.

I loved the old layout of the Mexico City circuit but think the current layout is pretty uninspiring. It’s not just the peraltada been replaced by the stadium section but it’s everything else. The old layout was nice and flowing and the esses section was wonderful with each corner been faster than the last and each one flowing nicely into the next. Now it’s just a series of weirdly angled corners that have no real flow and aren’t especially interesting to watch cars going through.

And in terms of Vegas. I hate that track, Along with Miami it’s easily my least favourite circuit currently in use and it’s up there with Valencia, Sochi, The old Vegas track, Dallas & Detroit in terms of been one of the worst circuits i’ve ever watched F1 race on so i’d rather that venue be scrapped entirely and never return!
1. some racing fan
  10th January 2025, 7:15
  
  Oh come on. That is harsh. No F1 track- not one- is down there with the old Caesars Palace track, Sochi and the old Zeltweg Aerodrome.
2. rpla
  10th January 2025, 12:32
  
  > It’s not just the peraltada been replaced by the stadium section but it’s everything else. The old layout was nice and flowing and the esses section was wonderful with each corner been faster than the last and each one flowing nicely into the next. Now it’s just a series of weirdly angled corners that have no real flow
  
  At the time Tilke was saying that his redesign would provide for an equivalent driving experience. I was always skeptical of such claims. The original layout was flowing, same cannot be said of the redesign.
Mike Davies (@nanotech)
9th January 2025, 16:22

I’m sure it will be Imola, though I wish it would be Mexico. Vegas is goofy but it’s at least better suited for modern wide F1 cars. Imola is special but there’s too many strikes against it continuing. Mexico is boring, either too much DRS and fake passing, or not enough and a procession. I suppose they could tighten up turns 7-11 for more wrecks and safety cars if they wanted more fake excitement.
Rob (@sundiesel)
9th January 2025, 18:33

Gee, how much I’m hoping its Lass Vegas.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
10th January 2025, 18:44

I suspect Imola will be told its compensation race will be whichever alternation slot opens first (currently 2028 for Belgium). However, I’m seeing some worrying signs from Las Vegas – the race became an election issue and the resistance went up instead of down after the inaugural race. If that happens, Imola will get a 2026 round, possibly even 2028 while F1 waits for the election cycle.

The only way Mexico won’t be on the 2026 calendar is if the numbers from Liberty don’t add up.