Imola’s exclusion from the final two races of the 2026 Formula 1 season has triggered a political backlash, with local opposition figures criticising mayor Marco Panieri over the city’s failure to secure a Grand Prix return. The decision to retain Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the calendar has ended hopes of bringing Formula 1 back to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari this year, sparking accusations of inadequate planning and demands for greater transparency from the municipal administration.
The decision was reached through discussions involving Formula One Management (FOM), the FIA and the organisers of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. Qatar is scheduled to host the penultimate race on 29 November, with Abu Dhabi retaining the season finale on 6 December. The confirmation effectively ended Imola’s hopes of replacing one of the final two races amid tensions in the Middle East.
Imola had officially disappeared from the Formula 1 calendar in June 2025, just weeks after hosting a Grand Prix that attracted more than 240,000 spectators across the three-day weekend. The possibility of an unexpected return in 2026 had therefore generated considerable interest in the city, making the latest disappointment particularly difficult for local supporters and businesses.
Imola F1 2026 hopes end as political controversy erupts
The announcement arrived while workers were assembling temporary structures beside the grandstands at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. As reported by Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, the news immediately reignited political debate over how Imola’s Formula 1 ambitions have been managed.
For local opposition figures, the disappointment was not simply about losing another opportunity to host a Grand Prix. It also raised questions about the effectiveness of the municipal administration’s efforts to protect one of the region’s most important sporting attractions.
The criticism has focused particularly on mayor Marco Panieri and the diplomatic and institutional initiatives undertaken in recent months to strengthen Imola’s position in negotiations concerning Formula 1.
Fratelli d’Italia criticises Imola mayor Marco Panieri over failed F1 return
Nicolas Vacchi, the leader of the Fratelli d’Italia group, called for a serious assessment of how the city’s major sporting assets are being managed and protected.
“We need a serious reflection on the management and protection of our region’s outstanding assets,” Nicolas Vacchi declared.
The opposition representative then contrasted the approach of the national government with that of the local administration.
“At national level, the Meloni government demonstrates the strategic importance of promoting major events and strengthening Italy’s credibility around the world. At local level, however, the administration’s difficulty in exerting concrete influence in negotiations of this magnitude appears evident,” he explained.
Nicolas Vacchi also questioned the value of the international institutional visits undertaken by mayor Marco Panieri in recent months, suggesting that their effectiveness should be examined more closely.
“It is legitimate for us to ask how effective the institutional missions abroad undertaken by Mayor Panieri in recent months have been: have these representative initiatives produced tangible benefits for the community, or have they been limited to visibility without results?” he asked.
The Fratelli d’Italia representative concluded by demanding greater accountability from the mayor.
“Citizens have the right to transparency. We ask that the mayor come before the City Council to report,” Nicolas Vacchi stated.
Simone Carapia attacks Imola administration over loss of Formula 1
Simone Carapia, vice-president of the City Council, expressed similar criticism, arguing that the announcement represented another disappointing outcome for Imola and its ambitions to remain part of the Formula 1 World Championship.
“We acknowledge, unfortunately with great regret but without surprise, yet another announcement after the fact from Mayor Panieri. Faced with the now virtually certain cancellation of the Made in Italy Grand Prix, the administration retreats into the rhetoric of ‘shared dreams’ and local pride,” Simone Carapia declared.
The local official argued that the consequences extended beyond the loss of a sporting event, affecting the city’s international profile and the wider economy.
“The reality, however, is very different and is clear for all Imola residents to see: Imola is losing Formula 1 and the international stage it deserved. The fans, the local economy and our Motor Valley deserved much better planning, not press releases filled with resignation disguised as optimism,” he added.
The comments reflect growing frustration among opposition representatives over the disappearance of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from the championship calendar and the unsuccessful attempt to secure a replacement event at the end of 2026.
Marco Panieri responds as Qatar and Abu Dhabi retain F1 season finale
Mayor Marco Panieri had already recognised several days earlier, as preparations began at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, that Imola’s chances of returning to the calendar were rapidly diminishing.
Following the decision to maintain the final two Grands Prix in the Middle East, the mayor acknowledged the outcome while expressing disappointment that the Italian circuit would not be given the opportunity to host Formula 1 again this year.
“We acknowledge the decision to confirm the final Grands Prix of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, in light of the progress in the international situation. We would have liked to experience this historic moment together with newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli, the teams and our extraordinary fans. A shared dream that today becomes new energy for the future,” Marco Panieri explained.
The reference to Andrea Kimi Antonelli underlined the significance that a potential home race would have carried for Italy, with the Mercedes driver having secured the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.
Despite the setback, the mayor insisted that the city would continue pursuing opportunities to bring the championship back to Imola rather than abandoning its ambitions following the latest decision.
Imola vows to continue fighting for a future Formula 1 Grand Prix
Marco Panieri reiterated that the effort to restore the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix would continue through cooperation with regional authorities and sporting institutions.
“Our journey to bring the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix back to Imola does not stop here. Together with President Michele de Pascale, ACI and our institutional and sporting partners, we will continue working to reaffirm Imola’s willingness to host Formula 1,” the mayor stated.
The commitment mirrors Marco Panieri’s determination to pursue an Imola Formula 1 comeback, even after the latest setback.
For now, however, the 2026 Formula 1 calendar continues towards its scheduled conclusion in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, leaving the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari without a Grand Prix this season.
Although the immediate opportunity has disappeared, the political dispute in Imola has highlighted the pressure facing the local administration to demonstrate that its efforts to restore Formula 1 can eventually produce tangible results.
The challenge for Marco Panieri and the regional authorities is now to transform their continued commitment into a realistic opportunity for a future Grand Prix, while responding to the criticism surrounding Imola’s latest unsuccessful attempt to return to the championship.
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