Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix held at Imola could be dropped from the calendar in the near future.
The famed circuit – which was reintroduced to F1 in 2020 after a 14-year hiatus – is in the final year of its contract, and will host the seventh round on May 18.
F1’s 2025 calendar is, along with last year, the biggest in its history, boasting 24 races, and with competition for space on the schedule, Imola’s future looks bleak.
Despite the breadth of races on the F1 calendar these days, space on it is precious, particularly with the USA being afforded the luxury of three rounds.
This, coupled with exploratory talks with Thailand and South Africa about new races, puts some countries at risk.
Zandvoort, home of the Dutch Grand Prix, has already announced it will not remain on the calendar beyond next year.
Domenicali, a native of Imola, has conceded that his own home Grand Prix is under threat as F1 will struggle to accommodate two races in the country.
“Italy has always been and will be an important part of Formula 1,” he told RAI Radio.
“It will be increasingly difficult to have two races in the same country because interest in F1 is growing and it’s a situation we will have to deal with in the coming months.
“It’s hard for this situation with Imola and Monza to continue together on the calendar for long.”
Triumph and tragedy – Imola’s chequered F1 history
The Imola circuit made its first appearance on the F1 calendar in 1980, standing in for Monza as the venue for the Italian Grand Prix whilst it underwent refurbishment.
A year later, it began its long tenure as host of the San Marino Grand Prix, and was deemed another home race for Ferrari, with great numbers flocking to support the team.
After the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the 1994 race, the circuit saw huge alterations for safety purposes, and continued to run on the calendar until 2006.
The venue was the scene for many happier notable moments, including the 1985 instalment, when several leading cars ran out of fuel in the closing laps.
One of its most thrilling moments came in 2005, when Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher duelled incessantly in the final few laps, with the Spaniard managing to hold off the seven-time champion to take victory.
After being dropped from the schedule, Imola lost its FIA Grade 1 status to host a Grand Prix, before it was regained in 2011.
However, the circuit did not make a return until the COVID-hit 2020 campaign, staging the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on November 1 of that year.
The venue and the race have remained ever since, but with other countries competing for spots on the calendar, it looks set for another stint in the F1 wilderness.
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