F1: The 2026 Imola Grand Prix Is Feasible—What Are the Obstacles?

The Formula 1 calendar continues to be thrown into turmoil by the extremely delicate geopolitical situation raging in the Middle East, which has already led to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races this spring. Meanwhile, the world championship races scheduled for November and December in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are once again at risk, making a possible return of the Formula 1 circuit to Imola a more realistic possibility than in the past. However, there is no shortage of problems—especially logistical ones.

In fact, reducing the number of GPs from 24 to 20 would be unacceptable to Liberty Media, which must adhere to strict commitments with sponsors and investors regarding seasonal revenue. For this reason, Formula 1 needs to return to at least 22 races for 2026, and one seems ready to go: as confirmed by ‘Sky Sport,’ the goal of bringing the Malaysian Grand Prix back onto the calendar is a real possibility. Sepang could once again host the Formula 1 circuit between the Baku and Singapore races, also taking advantage of its geographical proximity to the latter. For the other slot, the focus is on Europe, with Imola a strong contender.

The other main candidates are Portimao, for the Portuguese Grand Prix, and Istanbul for the Turkish Grand Prix. However, both circuits are currently undergoing major renovations, while Imola is reportedly already ready. For the Santerno circuit, this would also serve as “compensation” , given that the cancellation of the 2023 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix due to that year’s severe weather conditions was supposed to result in a “make-up” race in 2026, which ultimately did not materialize. The real problem, however—beyond logistics—would once again be the weather.

In 2026, the only possible slot on the calendar for Imola would in fact be in November or even December—precisely when the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi were scheduled to take place. It is clear, however, that temperatures in Emilia-Romagna are not the same as those in the Persian Gulf countries during the same time of year. This is a legitimate concern, but one that Formula 1 might decide to work around, given the presence of circuit director Pietro Benvenuti and Mayor Marco Panieri in Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix scheduled for this Sunday.

Imola’s bid, after all, is not entirely new in this tumultuous year of 2026. Back in March, when news broke of the imminent cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, Benvenuti himself had responded cautiously but without hiding the Emilia-Romagna circuit’s willingness to host: “We don’t want to speculate on this situation; that wouldn’t be right. Last year, we proved we know how to organize an F1 Grand Prix, so we’re ready. If anyone needs us, we’ll be ready.” However, the director had also tempered expectations of an immediate rescheduling, emphasizing that “with this year’s packed calendar and logistical challenges, there won’t be any rescheduled races. At most, perhaps a few double-headers at the same circuit.”

Further complicating the picture is the position of Saudi Aramco, a Global Partner of the World Championship and sponsor of the Aston Martin team, which is among the leading investors in global sports. The Saudi oil company was at the center of a tragedy on June 28, when one of its helicopters crashed in Ras Tanura, killing all 14 passengers on board. This incident further highlighted the fragility of the geopolitical landscape in the region, making any decision regarding Formula 1’s presence or absence in the Gulf countries even more delicate.

Meanwhile, the calendar issue is also dominating discussions on the track. This very weekend at the Hungaroring—the final race before the summer break—the presence of Benvenuti and Panieri in Budapest demonstrates just how far the issue has now progressed into the operational phase of negotiations. Pending official developments, Formula 1 is gearing up for the final hours of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which sees Lando Norris starting from pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton penalized three grid positions for obstructing Oscar Piastri during qualifying. This race could also prove decisive in the championship race, with World Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli set to defend his 204-point lead over Hamilton while starting from seventh on the grid due to a similar penalty for failing to obey a yellow flag.