Imola could make a surprise Formula 1 return late in 2026 as a replacement for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix if the race cannot be held in Jeddah. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali fuelled speculation after the Hungarian Grand Prix by suggesting that “another Grand Prix may speak Italian” before the end of the season.
The possibility would give Formula 1 another route towards restoring its planned 24-race championship after international tensions forced two events off the original schedule. It would also bring the series back to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit, potentially settling what many in Imola still regard as an outstanding debt following the cancellation caused by the devastating floods in the region several years ago.
Formula 1 begins rebuilding its 2026 calendar
On Sunday, only hours after the Hungarian Grand Prix brought the first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season to an end with a surprise victory for Lando Norris and a resurgent McLaren, a long-awaited announcement arrived. The Bahrain Grand Prix will effectively be replaced by a race held in Malaysia.
The situation is slightly complicated. The event will retain the official Bahrain Grand Prix name, but its venue will change to the Sepang International Circuit. It will take place as part of a collaboration between Bahrain and Malaysia that appears more formal than substantial. The arrangement means Formula 1 will recover one of the two Grands Prix cancelled because of the continuing international tensions when the championship returns to Sepang in early October.
The conflict initiated by Donald Trump was supposed to last only a few days according to his highly optimistic and wildly inaccurate predictions. Instead, it continues to produce tangible consequences. Its effects are now evident in everyday life, including fuel prices, which have climbed so sharply that a litre of diesel costs as much as a gram of gold.
Against that backdrop, Formula 1 is attempting to bring the 2026 Formula 1 calendar as close as possible to the version announced at the beginning of the season, while maintaining its target of staging 24 races.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix remains the missing race
One event is still missing: the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Negotiations remain open, with Stefano Domenicali and Liberty Media apparently unwilling to abandon their ambition of completing all 24 scheduled rounds. Every possible solution is being considered, including some particularly unexpected alternatives.
Formula 1 may continue working until the last possible moment to place the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in the closing stages of the championship. That would extend a season already set to finish on the threshold of winter, an outcome previously raised as part of the possible late-season calendar reshuffle.
The most surprising development, however, could involve moving the event away from Saudi Arabia altogether. If the race cannot be staged in Jeddah, Imola could take its place.
Stefano Domenicali hints at an Imola F1 return
Speaking to Sky after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Stefano Domenicali made a comment that immediately intensified speculation. The Formula 1 CEO raised the possibility that, before the end of the season, “another Grand Prix may speak Italian”.
With Monza naturally hosting only one race, many interpreted Stefano Domenicali’s words as a reference to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit. His comment added weight to the rumours surrounding an Imola Formula 1 return, which have grown increasingly persistent over recent weeks.
There are two principal reasons why Imola has emerged as a potential solution. The first is practical: the circuit on the banks of the Santerno is essentially ready to host a Grand Prix. Formula 1 raced there until two years ago, and the venue still possesses all the infrastructure required to welcome the championship.
Imola is a modern and functional circuit capable of accommodating a large crowd, while the passion surrounding the event has never disappeared. Unlike other potential replacement venues, it could be activated relatively quickly if Formula 1 and the promoters reached an agreement.
Ferrari and Andrea Kimi Antonelli strengthen Imola’s appeal
There is also a compelling sporting argument. Italy is experiencing a particularly interesting period in Formula 1 thanks to the rise of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and a Ferrari team that continues to believe in its championship prospects.
A second Italian event would therefore add value from the perspective of public interest. Ferrari’s national following, combined with growing enthusiasm around Andrea Kimi Antonelli, could help generate the strong attendance and atmosphere required for an additional race organised at relatively short notice.
Formula 1 had previously considered several contingency plans as uncertainty surrounded both Middle Eastern races. Stefano Domenicali had already acknowledged that alternative arrangements for the 2026 calendar were under discussion, although the practical challenges remained considerable.
The symbolic importance of returning Formula 1 to Imola
A second motivation may be less decisive from an organisational standpoint, but it carries far greater symbolic significance. Several years ago, Imola was forced to surrender its Grand Prix because of the devastating floods that struck the surrounding area.
Liberty Media promised at the time that the lost race would somehow be recovered. Until now, however, that promise has never produced a concrete outcome.
Returning Formula 1 to the circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari would provide an ideal way to close that chapter. It would give back to Imola what was taken away by exceptional circumstances while demonstrating that, alongside commercial priorities and eye-watering revenues, the history of the sport and the importance of its traditional regions still matter.
In some respects, it would reconcile a Formula 1 championship increasingly focused on major global markets with one of the circuits that best represents motorsport tradition. It would be an important gesture and could restore a more human dimension to a system often perceived as being driven exclusively by revenue.
Imola could host Formula 1 in December
Negotiations remain ongoing and no decision has yet been made. Nevertheless, the possibility of seeing Imola added to the calendar in December remains concrete and could provide a fascinating conclusion to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Ultimately, few people would probably dwell on the unusual prospect of the race retaining the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix name while being held in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. That would be a purely formal arrangement, primarily intended to respect agreements with Middle Eastern promoters who have invested substantial sums, without changing the essential reality of the event.
Formula 1 would return to Italy for a second race, representing a result of considerable value. It might be an exceptional solution dictated by the circumstances, but having a circuit such as Imola ready to step in whenever the calendar encounters difficulties would be a valuable resource.
The opportunity could even reopen the path towards a permanent Formula 1 return for the historic Emilia-Romagna venue in the future. What begins as an emergency replacement for Jeddah could ultimately become the first step towards restoring Imola’s long-term place in the World Championship.
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