Stefano Domenicali's idea for future of European GPs: announcement of track rotations to come soon?

Stefano Domenicali’s idea for future of European GPs: announcement of track rotations to come soon?. Tracks like Zandvoort, Spa, Imola, and Barcelona could alternate from 2026.

Fred Vasseur Ferrari team principal, Stefano Domenicali F1 CEO

Formula 1 in Europe

After the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit, as usual, Formula 1 is set to leave Europe for the final phase of the season between Asia and America. While we will have to wait for the Imola event scheduled for the weekend of May 18, 2025, to see the cars back on the Old Continent, Liberty Media does not forget that Europe remains the beating heart of the Championship. To avoid reducing the number of races and to expand the calendar in countries with a strong motorsport tradition, the championship organizers are considering an annual rotation system for some European circuits. Tracks like Zandvoort, Spa-Francorchamps, Imola, and Barcelona (which will lose its fixed slot from 2026 with the entry of Madrid) could alternate year by year.

Stefano Domenicali’s idea for European GPs

Stefano Domenicali himself hinted at such a solution. Cited by the German newspaper *Bild*, the head of the GP paddock promised to soon reveal updates to keep the interest of European promoters high, who inevitably struggle economically compared to many emerging countries: “We will see something interesting in the 2026 calendar. We are discussing with other organizers in Europe to do something that will be announced soon. It will certainly be a year with many GPs in Europe, and at the moment, we have many options in this regard.”

German GP returns on the Formula 1 calendar?

With Audi’s debut, a return of the German GP is also not excluded: a race that hasn’t been held since 2019 (last run at Hockenheim), except for the 2020 race at the Nürburgring as the Eifel GP.

“Germany,” – Stefano Domenicali said, “has always been part of our calendar, but today, unfortunately, we don’t have a Grand Prix. Not because we don’t want one, but because the situation in the country has changed. We are trying to find the right partners to re-establish a constructive dialogue. Audi is entering Formula 1, and we already have a strong partner like Mercedes. Everyone is pushing to find a solution, but we don’t have one yet. Our job, however, is to finally find one.” – the former Ferrari team principal concluded.