Imola’s hopes of returning to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar are gaining momentum, with broadcasters and event personnel beginning to prepare for the possibility of a Grand Prix at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit on Sunday, December 13. The race would potentially replace the cancelled Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and could extend the F1 season to within days of Christmas.
The development comes as Formula 1 continues working to restore its original 24-race schedule. The Bahrain Grand Prix issue has already been addressed, with the event set to be recovered at the Sakhir circuit in Malaysia, while attention has now turned to finding a solution for Saudi Arabia. Imola has emerged as one of the strongest possibilities and its prospects of an unexpected December return have continued to strengthen.
Imola F1 return could preserve a 24-race 2026 calendar
The situation is complicated further by continuing geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf, which mean two other Grands Prix scheduled late in the season could still face uncertainty. No decisive turning point has yet emerged, leaving Formula 1 watching developments closely.
The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for November 27-29, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4-6. Formula 1’s current intention is to retain both events and hopes the underlying problems can be resolved before the championship reaches its final stages. However, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain central to the calendar discussions as organisers consider contingency plans.
Decisions cannot be left until the last moment. Staging a Formula 1 Grand Prix requires an enormous logistical operation, from shipping Pirelli tyres and team equipment to preparing television infrastructure and all the personnel required to run one of motorsport’s largest international events.
That need for advance planning is one reason why Imola’s candidacy is becoming increasingly significant. Formula One Management’s underlying objective is to recover the cancelled Saudi Arabian round and ensure the 2026 championship still consists of 24 Grands Prix.
December 13 emerges as possible date for Imola Grand Prix
Under the scenario currently being evaluated, the race at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit would be added immediately after Abu Dhabi and staged as the final round of the season on Sunday, December 13. That would push the conclusion of the Formula 1 campaign unusually deep into December, with the championship ending less than two weeks before Christmas.
Imola has already been discussed as a possible replacement venue during the uncertainty surrounding the Middle Eastern rounds, while the practical challenges of holding an Imola Grand Prix in December have also become part of the debate.
The prospect gained further credibility following comments from Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali around the Hungarian Grand Prix. Domenicali indicated that the final Grand Prix of the season could have an Italian flavour, an obvious reference to Imola rather than Monza, which remains regularly scheduled for the beginning of September.
F1 broadcasters begin preparing for possible Imola race
There is now another potentially important signal coming from behind the scenes. According to information gathered by FormulaCritica, television organisations expected to cover the event have begun making logistical preparations for those dates.
The process reportedly extends from Formula One Management’s internal television production operation to the various broadcasters responsible for Formula 1 coverage around the world. Staff, producers, camera operators, editors and other personnel required for a race weekend are beginning to be alerted to the possibility of travelling to Imola.
Technical crews responsible for wiring and broadcast infrastructure are also involved. These are essential roles for recording, producing and transmitting the audio and video content generated during a Formula 1 weekend, meaning their preparation normally has to begin well before cars arrive at the circuit.
FormulaCritica reports that the current period is particularly hectic because neither the FIA nor Liberty Media has officially announced a final decision. Despite that, broadcasters are believed to have already been instructed to prepare themselves and organise the potential trip to Imola.
Official confirmation of Imola could now be the next step
The preparations do not yet amount to confirmation that the race will take place, but they provide an important indication of how seriously the December option is being considered. Formula 1 must give broadcasters and logistical partners enough time to prepare even while the final calendar remains dependent on decisions that have not yet been formally announced.
The wider 2026 Formula 1 calendar has already been reshaped by the loss of its originally scheduled Middle Eastern races, while uncertainty surrounding Qatar and Abu Dhabi means further contingency planning remains necessary.
For Imola, however, the latest movement represents another meaningful step towards a return that appeared highly unlikely when the circuit was initially left off the 2026 schedule. If the plan receives final approval, Formula 1 would return to the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit on December 13, with the Italian venue potentially becoming the stage for an extraordinary late-season finale on the doorstep of Christmas.
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