Formula 1 is undergoing a global revolution with interest around the world growing at a rate never seen before.
The popularity of Drive To Survive and one of the most exciting seasons in recent years have only boosted the interest in F1 globally and this means more and more countries want a piece of the action.
The 2025 F1 calendar contains the same 24 races as the year before but that similarity disappears next year.
F1 introduces new regulations in 2026 and there will be at least one circuit making its debut next year.
The Madrid Grand Prix – a hybrid street circuit designed around the Spanish capital – will join the schedule, adding another European race to the calendar.
However, a report from The Race suggests that while a new European track is joining the calendar, another may have already fallen off the schedule by then.
They believe that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is set to host its final race as a permanent fixture on the calendar this year.
Imola is an iconic track for many Formula 1 fans, but it’s hard to justify Italy hosting more than one permanent race each year and Monza’s recent contract extension spells bad news for the rather enthusiastically named, ‘Formula 1 MSC Cruises Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna’.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola likely to fall off the F1 calendar after 2025
The report from The Race highlights that several races are coming towards the end of their current deals.
Barcelona are fighting to stay on the grid after 2026 when the contract expires, and they may face the same issue as Imola with Formula 1 unlikely to be able to justify Spain hosting two races every year.
Baku also only has two races left on its current deal, and if F1 want to retain a race in that region, they may end up switching back to Turkey who want to return to the calendar.
However, after Spa signed a deal to host races up to 2031 – excluding the 2028 and 2030 seasons – Imola is now ‘not expected to continue beyond its current deal’.
READ MORE: Which F1 drivers do well at Emilia Romagna GP with Hamilton and Verstappen successful in Imola
The Race go on to say that the likes of France and Germany are candidates to join a rotation of F1 races around Europe, while Barcelona and Imola will join that roster if they lose their permanent spots in the schedule.
Formula 1 are also keen to look further afield and the likes of Rwanda and Thailand want to host races, while Saudi Arabia could be closing in on earning a second Grand Prix in the near future.
Lewis Hamilton describes ‘beautiful’ but ‘boring’ racing at Imola
Imola will always have its place in F1 history having witnessed some brilliant races, but also the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994.
In 2020, Hamilton was asked about the circuit, via Reuters, and said: “What is unfortunate with this track is it’s so beautiful to drive but… I am pretty certain you’re going to see a pretty boring race tomorrow.
“You can overtake on this long straight but it’s quite narrow, and you can’t follow. Once you get into turn one it’s a train and there’s no single place to overtake anywhere else. So it’s going to be a challenge for people following.”
READ MORE: What F1 teams do well at Emilia Romagna GP with Mercedes and Red Bull successful at Imola
Hamilton nailed the crux of Imola although its surroundings are stunning, the racing is never intriguing enough to justify its place on the grid and the relatively small reach it has for fans.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was asked about Imola’s future by Autosprint and said: “Imola has the will to continue and carry forward a project.
“The Enzo and Dino Ferrari is an important circuit that could fall within the rotation logic, but not with Monza.”
That’s the crux of the issue for Imola, if it was a standalone race in one country, it would likely have a good chance of staying on the calendar, but Monza’s existence now threatens Imola’s immediate future.
