Formula 1 drivers are resigned to the likelihood this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will be their last visit to Imola for now.
The track which returned to the F1 schedule during the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago does not have a contract to host a race beyond the end of this season and appears unlikely to get one. With a new street race in Madrid joining the 2026 F1 calendar, Imola looks set to be squeezed out.Championship leader Oscar Piastri is among those who will miss the venue if F1 does not return.
“It’s a great circuit,” said the McLaren driver. “I’ve only raced here once, but it’s definitely towards the top end of my favourites.”
The last round in Miami was the first of three grands prix which will take place in the USA this year. But Piastri doesn’t believe Italy can continue to host a race in Imola in addition to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
“I think having two races in the same country, with how many bids we have from around the world, maybe doesn’t make that much sense anymore,” he said. “And when you have Monza as your second race in Italy, it’s pretty hard not to go to Monza. I think there’d be some riots if we didn’t!”
Several European rounds are under pressure. The Dutch Grand Prix will end next year while the Belgian Grand Prix will only take place every other season after 2027. Piastri warned F1 should “be careful to preserve the history.”
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“Zandvoort is going, Spa is going to be on rotation, which I’m not the happiest about. We just need to be careful not to lose these historical tracks.
Mercedes driver and Grand Prix Drivers Association director George Russell said Imola’s appeal goes beyond its layout.
“Ultimately Formula 1 is what it is because of the fans,” he said. “They are what make it so special. So having races like Imola, Monza, Silverstone – everyone’s always excited to come here.
“Of course Formula 1 is so massive and the TV side of it is maybe the biggest factor, but we should never forget the core part of it, which is for fans who come and live and breathe racing. Imola is one of the best circuits for this especially in the last sector, you have people’s houses overlooking the track, that’s just awesome.”
Max Verstappen is seeking a fourth consecutive victory at the circuit this year, but is doubtful he will get the chance to win another.
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“I always enjoyed driving here, even back in F3 we raced here,” he said. “It’s a very, very special track. A real driver’s track with the kerbs that you have to take, there’s lap time to be gained.
“So of course, I hope it’s not [going to be dropped], but we also have to be of course realistic. I think even F1 said it themselves that it’s tough to keep two Italian grands prix on the calendar. But first I think I’m just going to enjoy the moment.”
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2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
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- ‘Saturdays have been mine for years but for some reason it’s drifted away’ – Norris
- “Plan C?”: Why McLaren only got their strategy right for one driver at Imola
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
16th May 2025, 8:38
Nothing wrong with three races in one country, of course!
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
16th May 2025, 14:06
If you think about it though, the usa is a huge country, population wise it could have even more than 3 races while italy has 2, however I’m also against dropping imola.
The Dolphins
16th May 2025, 18:49
Population alone is not important; by that logic China should host a quarter of the races. Imola and Monza have heritage, fans from around the world come to see F1 in Italy. Compare that to people going to visit Vegas and Florida and maybe seeing the race when they’re there. F1 is chasing the money (the race promoters) for short term shareholder value at the expense of the sport in the long term.
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
16th May 2025, 8:53
I do hope we see a future where this less funded tracks can still rotate and appear occasionally on the calendar. Imola, Spa, Zandvoort, Algarve, Mugello, Magny-Cours, Paul Ricard, Jerez, Hockenheim, Nürburgring, Istanbul, there are so many tracks that could host F1. If 3 of these are hosting yearly, F1 would return every 3-4 years which would create a mix. It would be far more exciting to race even at “boring” proper tracks once every 3-4 years than adding yet another impopular street circuit.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
16th May 2025, 13:01
Bring back the European GP!
rsp123 (@rsp123)
16th May 2025, 23:29
Well said Christopher.
MRS WENDY HOLT
18th May 2025, 16:04
Well said. A proper Race Circuit beats any street race!
S
16th May 2025, 9:57
Said drivers could collectively fund any GP/s they wish.
They’d have to, as they are financially unviable events otherwise. Calendar spaces go to the wealthiest promoters – not the ones with the most historical circuits.
But it’s not all bad for the drivers – the increase in sanctioning fees paid to FOM is making them all ridiculously rich. And then they can race on those ‘better’ circuits in much better cars when they are no longer in F1.
Red Pill (@redpill)
16th May 2025, 10:28
Can’t believe SPA is not getting a permanent race slot; that’s tragic
AlexS
16th May 2025, 21:47
Indeed
Biggsy
16th May 2025, 10:55
Who doesn’t want to watch 3 races in US, especially when 2 of them are completely forgettable!
We got a few good new ones, like Istanbul and Sepang, but better ditch those, and go to another quasi-street night race. Also, make sure that any new track is as flat as a mirror. Banish all the elevation changes. They are known to make tracks interesting, and we don’t want that.
Give us more Miamis, Vegases, Jedahs, Qatars etc. Fake, featureless, soulless “venues”. Because, we don’t want just tracks. We want “venues”.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
16th May 2025, 13:21
As long the ‘venues’ are paying big-bucks Liberty don’t care what the circuits are like. I mean they might put extra things on to please the fans but the bottom line is everything.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
16th May 2025, 14:10
Sepang was also a big loss indeed.
isthatglock21
16th May 2025, 10:56
Meh, Imola & Zandvort won’t be missed imo. We should focus or efforts on savings the likes of Spa.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
16th May 2025, 12:28
Exactly. We can wax wistfully all we like but the real world is where we live. Brands Hatch is a beautiful undulating track but it become unsuitable 30 years ago. Imola and tragically Suzuka are totally unsuitable for these whining land yachts. Make the cars SWB and reduce aero by 50% and we can go back, till then, thanks for the memories.
If we are honest these monsters have outgrown all tracks and a good race is by accident of conditions or of a mistake.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
16th May 2025, 14:09
I’d hate to lose everyone of those 3, while I wouldn’t mind losing miami or saudi.
David (@nvherman)
16th May 2025, 18:00
Agreed.
There should always be events at:
Silverstone
Spa-Francorchamps
Monza
Imola
Monaco
France (I don’t mind whether it’s Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours)
Germany (again, either Hockenheim or the Nürburgring works for me)
Austria
Hungaroring
Australia
Suzuka
Canada
Brazil
Spain
Circuit of the Americas (the only event in the USA that’s not awful)
Of newer venues, I think Azerbaijan and China should stay, as should Zandvoort, and Turkey should be brought back.
Not really bothered about any other venues, they could avoid the Middle East altogether as far as I’m concerned
Martin (@f1hornet)
16th May 2025, 11:28
I think it’s a shame we can’t have a rotating European Grand Prix again. COVID showed there are tracks that can host races that don’t usually (Istanbul, Portimao, and of course Imola itself). I’m not that fussed about Imola leaving to be honest, I don’t think it creates the most exciting racing and before 2020 I assumed we would never see it back on the calendar anyway.
Leksa (@leksa)
16th May 2025, 13:09
Remove all Middle-East $port$wa$hing tracks and street circuits (bar Albert Park, Monaco, and Montreal), and there will be plenty of room for Imola and other traditional old-school circuits we love. Money and marketability should be the last things that matter when creating superb F1 calendar.
David (@nvherman)
16th May 2025, 18:01
Fully agree
Spencer (@spencer)
16th May 2025, 16:23
Imola is a snoozefest and not compatible with modern F1 cars. Same can be said for Monaco, Zandvoort, Barcelona, Hungaroring. Won’t be missed.
David (@nvherman)
16th May 2025, 18:02
@spencer
In your (wrong) opinion
The Dolphins
16th May 2025, 18:58
Key there being modern F1 cars. Sadly the regulations have gotten to a point where the cars are massive in every measure which contributes to engineering for problems generated by weight which in turn adds more weight. I would love to see F1 regulations shift to shorter, narrower, lighter cars for the post-2026 spec. to reduce fuel consumption, increase power:weight, reduce load on tyres, and importantly to allow the cars to put on a race on tighter circuits.
Ferdi
17th May 2025, 10:04
Yeah, well good luck with that. I do not think the current owner cares at all about any heritage nor sports element of their acquired circus. Revenue optimisation for invisible shareholders is the game here.