Imola left with 'disappointment and a sense of bitterness' after 2026 F1 calendar revealed

17:37, 10 Jun

Updated: 17:56, 10 Jun

bySavannah Lenz

After losing their spot on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, the Imola mayor, Marco Panieri and president of the Emilia-Romagna region, Michele de Pascale, have released a statement regarding the Imola Grand Prix.

The 2026 Formula 1 calenda r was released on Tuesday, 10th June. Missing from it was the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. This does not come as a surprise as they only had a contract until 2025.

Imola reacts to losing 2026 F1 Calendar slot

In a joint press release from the Municipaltic of Imola, Panieri and de Pascale said, “This is news that we were aware of and that understandably generates questions, disappointment and a sense of bitterness on the outside, because in recent years our territory has proven to be able to host an extraordinary event with record numbers, capable of combining international prestige, promotion of Made in Italy, of the Motor Valley and concrete returns for the economic and tourist system of our land and of the entire country.”

They also state that an attempt was made to gain an extra year due to the 2023 Grand Prix not happening.

“Furthermore, the territory, as the Emilia-Romagna Region and as the Municipality of Imola / Consorzio territoriale Con.Ami, had confirmed its availability for over a year and allocated the necessary resources in the budget also for 2026, as had been requested by the other institutional and sporting partners after the commitment made to recover next year the missed 2023 edition due to the dramatic flood events.”

Regardless of not being granted the extra year (as of right now), they continued, “However, this is not the time for controversy, buck-passing and resignation. Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility and resume discussions for a return to the calendar.”

At the end of their joint press release, the two left a message for the lovers of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

“To those who live and love Imola, Emilia-Romagna and this Grand Prix, we say that in a moment in which it would be easy to give in to useless polemics and disappointment, it is instead the time for tenacity and increasingly constructive commitment from everyone.”

“The game does not end here and up until now we have done things that only a few years ago seemed impossible. We continue to believe in it, with conviction and clarity, with the pride of a territory that, together with other institutional partners, has demonstrated its ability to dream big and concretely build opportunities."