“Enough of Imola, better to return to Germany”: verdict on second GP in Italy. Imola is too small, make way for Germany: Karun Chandhok's verdict on the F1 calendar.

Imola is too small, make way for Germany: Karun Chandhok’s verdict on the F1 calendar. The second Grand Prix in Italy is at high risk for 2026: the significant efforts made by the organizers in recent years may not be enough to convince Liberty Media. With the growing demand for new venues in the championship, the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodrome could once again lose its place in the premier series.

Formula 1 is a brutal sport in every sense. It is brutal for the drivers, the engineers, the staff, and also for the organizers. Sometimes, dedication and passion are not enough to save historical racing temples. Thus, Italy might soon face a difficult choice: with two races on the calendar, either Monza or Imola could disappear.

It is difficult, almost impossible, to keep both events in Italy. Nothing is certain yet, and things could still change, but according to some commentators, Imola might be the one to leave the Circus. The Romagna circuit is “too narrow for modern single-seaters,” resulting in races that are sometimes not very exciting.

Germany In, Imola Out: Is F1 looking at Hockenheim?
Karun Chandhok, former driver and seasoned commentator for Sky Sports F1, has a clear plan in mind: “I would eliminate Imola. It’s a fantastic and obviously historic destination, and in qualifying, it’s a very exciting circuit for fans and drivers, but it’s too narrow for modern racing. With the size of the cars, I think Formula 1 has outgrown the limits of the track in terms of development.”

“[At Imola] you don’t see many overtakes. I think there needs to be a Grand Prix in Germany: it’s quite strange to have a calendar without a German GP and without a French GP. Mercedes is on the starting grid, and Germany is historically tied to this sport, from the Vettel and Schumacher eras. It’s very strange not to have a race there.”

The Hockenheim circuit is on the table, which in the coming years will undergo extensive and costly redevelopment. In 2026, Madrid will also join with a street circuit promising to deliver excitement while learning from Valencia’s mistakes.