Pirelli does not believe an Imola F1 race in December would create insurmountable tyre problems if the Italian circuit returned as a potential replacement for a Middle Eastern round—or even hosted the 2026 season finale. Although low temperatures would make tyre warm-up more difficult, Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra sees no particular safety or usability concerns in the conditions normally expected at the beginning of December.
Imola has suddenly returned to the Formula 1 spotlight following speculation that it could replace one of the Middle Eastern races. The possibility of staging the final round of 2026 at the Emilia-Romagna venue has revived the hopes of Italian fans, who have demonstrated their enormous affection for the circuit over the past five years by filling every available space in the grandstands and beyond.
Imola discusses potential December F1 return
Nothing has been decided, however. Imola mayor Marco Panieri remained cautious despite attending the paddock in Budapest, although he confirmed that discussions with Formula 1’s senior management were under way to assess whether the proposal was feasible.
One of the main questions concerns when the event could take place. The proposed window is the weekend of 6 December, potentially replacing the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. The Po Valley climate, with its fog, low temperatures and short winter days, has inevitably raised considerable concern.
Imola is among the European venues under consideration as Formula 1 evaluates contingency options for an unexpected December finale. The Italian circuit’s winter conditions have also prompted questions during Ferrari’s previous cold-weather testing at Imola.
Why an Imola F1 race in December interests Pirelli
From a tyre-management perspective, however, the climate may not be as prohibitive as it initially appears. Racing at Imola in such conditions could instead present teams and drivers with a fascinating challenge similar to one they have already faced in Las Vegas, as Simone Berra explained.
“We will also go to Las Vegas this year, and we expect temperatures that could be in line with those hypothetically expected at Imola, considering that the race in Nevada takes place at night while Imola would still be held during the day,” Berra said. “Obviously, the tyres would be affected in terms of warm-up—that is beyond doubt—but I do not see any critical issues regarding safety or the tyres being unusable.”
“It could be particularly interesting because, rather than using the Hard compounds in the race, teams could opt for the softer compounds, given that our C5—the softest compound in Pirelli’s 2026 range—works particularly well.”
Sub-zero temperatures would represent the main tyre risk
Running slick tyres in cold conditions would not be ideal, but Berra believes the event would remain manageable unless temperatures dropped far enough below freezing to cause cold cracking. This phenomenon occurs when a tyre compound loses elasticity in very low temperatures and can develop cracks or small surface lesions when moved or used.
“Of course, working with slicks at those temperatures is not ideal, but I do not see any particular difficulties unless December brings sub-zero temperatures capable of causing cold cracking,” Berra continued. “In that situation, there would be a risk of damaging the tyres simply by handling them or moving them around inside the garage.”
“Apart from that, however, everything would be entirely manageable with the temperatures Italy generally experiences at the beginning of December,” the Pirelli chief engineer concluded.
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