Imola releases statement after 2026 F1 exclusion: 'By no means the final word'

Imola Mayor Marco Panieri and President Michele de Pascale have released a statement following the exclusion of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.

F1 announced the 24-race 2026 calendar on 10 June, and it's set to include the new Madrid Grand Prix. However, with the calendar still boasting 24 races, it has displaced Imola - at least for the time being.

Following the news, Panieri and President de Pascale released a strong joint statement.

"The provisional calendar of the Formula 1 Grand Prix for the 2026 season has been announced, from which Imola is excluded," the statement began.

"This is news that we were aware of and that understandably generates questions, disappointment and a sense of bitterness on the outside, because in recent years our territory has proven to be able to host an extraordinary event with record numbers, capable of combining international prestige, promotion of Made in Italy, of the Motor Valley and concrete returns for the economic and tourist system of our land and of the entire country.

"In fact, the Grand Prix in Imola was one of the most loved and appreciated by fans and drivers, as was also forcefully demonstrated in the days following the event, and its uniqueness in the world was evident: that of uniting the race on the track with the surrounding territory, starting from a historic center to be experienced."

Despite the exclusion, Panieri and de Pascale are confident this will not be the end of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Lars Baron / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

"However, we want to be very clear: this news is by no means the final word," they added.

"For the Region and the territory, the path undertaken by Imola and the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna does not end here. We are and were aware of the complexity of the dynamics linked to the calendar and the picture was very complicated from the beginning.

"The contract signed in 2021 – which few believed possible at the time – envisaged the stable return of the Gran Premio to Imola until 2025.

"As the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Imola, among the promoting partners, we have truly done everything that could be done in this phase. We have highlighted several times, on several occasions, in different ways, to all the actors involved, the importance and strategic nature of the issue.

"We did it with transparency, clarity, maximum availability and institutional collaboration."

The statement also noted that the Municipality of Imola had confirmed its availability for over a year and "allocated the necessary resources in the budget also for 2026, as had been requested by the other institutional and sporting partners after the commitment made to recover next year the missed 2023 edition due to the dramatic flood events.

"However, this is not the time for controversy, buck-passing and resignation. Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility and resume discussions for a return to the calendar."

To read the full statement, visit here.