Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Imola Excluded From 2026 F1 Calendar as Madrid Signs Five-Year Deal

Backlash over funding shortfalls has prompted local officials to outline a strategy to reclaim a future Formula 1 date

Image
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Imola has been dropped from the 2026 F1 calendar and its slot awarded to Madrid under a five-year hosting agreement.
  • Liberty Media’s new management insisted on higher track fees, leading to the replacement of Imola despite its storied legacy.
  • Madrid’s street circuit remains unfinished and unhomologated, marked by an asterisk on the provisional 2026 calendar.
  • The Italian government had pledged €5 million annually for national Grands Prix, but regional and municipal authorities in Emilia-Romagna were criticized for management lapses.
  • Local officials, referencing Stefano Domenicali’s Imola roots and Max Verstappen’s disappointment, say they will retool their bid for a future race date.