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.