By: In recent hours, the prospect of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship concluding at Imola has become increasingly concrete, with the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in contention to replace one of the two Asian rounds still at risk of cancellation because of the situation in the Middle East.
As we reported a few minutes ago, ACI is also believed to be working to make the Circus’s return to the Emilia-Romagna circuit possible. The proposed arrangement would be the same as that already identified for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is expected to be held in Malaysia: operating costs and revenue from sponsors and ticket sales would remain the responsibility of the Middle Eastern organisers, while Imola would be entrusted with managing and organising the event.
In light of these reports, Imola mayor Marco Panieri wished to publicly set out his position, underlining that the area is ready to seize what could be an extraordinary opportunity for the Autodromo and the whole of Emilia-Romagna: "We greatly welcome the words of ACI president Geronimo La Russa and the support of the sporting institutions for the possibility of hosting a second Formula 1 Grand Prix in our country. It is a clear signal confirming the central importance and strategic value of the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Autodrome."
"As we reiterated on 25 July, during our attendance at the Hungarian Grand Prix and through the work carried out in recent years, from 2020 to today, the channels of dialogue with the Formula 1 Circus have never been interrupted. On that occasion, we continued our assessment of international standards and advanced our investment plan: from the new footbridge and the covering of the pit building to the Casa degli Eventi at the Tosa corner, as well as work on the new Tosa bridge and new traffic arrangements on the Via Emilia. Today, we are continuing along this path."
"Our area, together with the Emilia-Romagna Region, is making major investments in the facility to make it increasingly modern, competitive and state-of-the-art. Imola and Emilia-Romagna, together with President De Pascale, have been moving in the right direction for some time, and we are always ready, as we have been in the past, to step up. However, to fully seize this extraordinary opportunity and provide continuity to a challenge of this scale, it is essential to work together: a collective commitment is needed, along with the right resources at national level to support the efforts the local community is already making."
Continuing, the Italian added: "It is essential, in a team-working context and to guarantee the required standards, as was done in the past with Monza, to have adequate financial support from the Government to continue the modernisation programme for public race circuits, including Imola."
"At the same time, we are watching with deep concern and sorrow the complex and dramatic international situation affecting the Middle East and other parts of the world. As we expressed in Hungary, we hope for a swift normalisation of tensions. We firmly believe that sport and motorsport are not merely an opportunity for competition and economic benefit, but must embody a higher role: a universal vehicle of hope, unity and cooperation among peoples, delivering a strong message of peace that the world desperately needs."
