Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has now put the future of an iconic Grand Prix in doubt after conceding that it has to fix ‘important issues’ to remain on the calendar.
The 2024 season features a record 24 Grand Prix plus six Sprint events in 21 countries over five continents. Italy and the United States of America both stage multiple Grand Prix a year. But more countries want to boast Formula 1 races than the pinnacle of motorsport can visit.
Domenicali must juggle expanding F1’s global reach with keeping the series close to its roots and core fanbase. He states that ‘every nation’ wants to host a Grand Prix with Formula 1 ‘at an all-time high for spectators and sponsors’. Yet his juggling act may see a fan-favourite fall.
Stefano Domenicali puts the futures of the Emilia Romagna GP and Italian GP on notice
Former Ferrari team principal Domenicali concedes that it is ‘quite difficult’ to see F1 having both the Emilia Romagna GP and the Italian GP on its calendar beyond 2026. Imola holds its round of the season this week before the travelling circus of F1 visits Monza this September.
Imola struck a new contract with Formula 1 to stage the Emilia Romagna GP through at least 2025 in March 2022. Monza also just has a contract to stage the Italian GP until 2025 after it signed new terms with Formula 1 in June 2020 to add a further year to its previous contract.
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Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the president of the Automobile Club of Italy (ACI), is keen to secure new contracts with F1 to keep the Emilia Romagna GP and also Italian GP on the calendar to 2030. But Domenicali has put Damiani’s plans in doubt ahead of their crunch talks in August.
Domenicali has told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Italy is central in the F1 calendar but important issues must be addressed relating to the resources that the country intends to invest and the infrastructure.
“A change of pace is needed by improving the safety of the racetracks and the offer of services for the public.
“At the end of August, in Monza, we will take stock with the government institutions and with the ACI. It is still possible that Italy holds two races after 2026 but, realistically, I think it will be quite difficult.”
Imola’s future on the Formula 1 calendar may be more at risk than Monza
Imola, officially called the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, is the home circuit of Ferrari and is only 50 miles from Maranello. But the future of the Emilia Romagna GP may be the most in doubt if Domenicali decides to drop it or the Italian GP after the 2026 season.
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F1 returned to Imola in 2020 after the cancellation of other races owing to Covid restrictions after a 14-year hiatus, following the final of 26 San Marino Grand Prix. But the Italian GP has remained on Formula 1’s calendar every term since the series’ maiden season back in 1950.
Monza has also held all but one Italian GP with Imola staging the 1980 edition while Monza underwent major refurbishments. So, while Domenicali has put the future of both races on notice and F1 could scrap the iconic Italian GP, the Emilia Romagna GP may be more at risk.
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