The Imola Grand Prix will take place next weekend, but the renewal issue is taking center stage.
Next weekend, Formula 1 will arrive in Emilia-Romagna for the Imola Grand Prix, the seventh round of the season. It’s a highly anticipated race for any true fan, and the weekend forecast points to a massive crowd of 200,000 spectators over the three days, with a peak of 92,500 expected on race day — a record-breaking figure.
However, the renewal of the race is still a hot topic, with the future of the Emilia-Romagna circuit hanging in the balance, seemingly close to being dropped from the calendar. During the official presentation of the event, top regional and national authorities expressed openness to continuing discussions, hoping to engage with Liberty Media and Stefano Domenicali to sit down and talk about the future — still within F1.
In recent hours, as the Grand Prix approaches, a compelling possibility has begun to emerge that could keep Imola on the calendar. According to Motorsport Italia, the circuit is reportedly willing to pay the €40 million required to remain on the calendar — most likely under a rotation system — but would need to bypass the restriction that allows only one Grand Prix per country, a rule currently waived only for the United States, which hosts three races per season.
To address this, organizers are considering drawing from the past by naming the race the San Marino Grand Prix, a title previously used in the Formula 1 calendar from 1981 to 2006. At the moment, this remains just a proposal, but as the event nears, updates are expected regarding the possible renewal of the Imola circuit’s place in Formula 1.
