There is already movement in Imola, given the uncertainty surrounding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs, and it appears as the favorite to host the final stage of the 2026 Formula 1 season, in case of cancellation of the races in the Middle East.
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The possibility has mobilized local authorities, who are working to secure their own resources, while countries in the region may contribute financially to the race. The goal is to prepare the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit to host a major event again.
The mayor of Imola, Marco Panieri, highlighted the importance of the support received from sports institutions: “We received with great appreciation the words of the ACI president, Geronimo La Russa, and the support of sports institutions for the possibility of hosting a second Formula 1 GP in our country,” he said.
Panieri also emphasized that dialogue with the category remains active, and mentioned the work done by the city in recent years: “As we reiterated also on July 25, during our presence at the Hungarian GP, and through the work done these years, from 2020 until today, the channels of dialogue with F1 have never been interrupted,” he said.
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According to the mayor, Imola and the Emilia-Romagna Region are already investing in modernizing the circuit’s infrastructure: “Our municipality, together with the Emilia-Romagna Region, is making important investments in the infrastructure to make it increasingly modern, competitive, and cutting-edge,” he added.
Despite the local willingness, Panieri stressed that hosting an event of this scale would require broader mobilization and additional resources at the national level: “It is essential that we work together, as collective effort is needed and adequate resources at the national level are necessary to support the efforts that the local community is already making,” he concluded.
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