Imola to return to F1 calendar?

Philip Heck · Jun 17, 2015

The last F1 race held at Imola was the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix © Getty Images

Imola keen to return to F1 calendar

Monza's financial troubles mean hope for an Imola F1 comeback. Bernie Ecclestone can imagine Italian GP rotation between Imola and Monza.

Imola might just return to the F1 calendar in the near future. Italian sports paper Gazetta dello Sport reports that the owners of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari have issued and application for a return to the F1 calendar to F1 Promoter Bernie Ecclestone.

"Imola suggests a rotation between Monza and them. We could do that. I want to keep the Italian Grand Prix on the calendar.", confirms Ecclestone.

It would be the same procedure that is already in use for the German Grand Prix, alternating between Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring. Whereas this year's race at the Nürburgring had to be cancelled due to financial troubles.

In the past there have been various reports of similar problems at Monza. Even getting rid of the Italian Grand Prix for good had been discussed.

The last F1 race at Imola was the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. In 1994 both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger both had fatal accidents at the circuit.

Source: Sport1.de (german)

ENDR · Jun 18, 2015

NEXT TO Monza? Sure.
INSTEAD OF Monza? Hell, no! Imola isn't quick enough and F1 needs at least ONE track that lets the cars reach (almost) their top speeds.
They can rotate the German GP all they want, those two circuits don't stand out as much. As for the Italian GP - Bernie ought to suck it up and give the Monza guys a break, because this track IS special. And getting a bit less money from Italy isn't exactly F1's most serious problem.

ufunacaoenn · Jun 18, 2015

Philip Heck · Jun 18, 2015

But wasn't Imola basically impossible to overtake on?

ufunacaoenn · Jun 18, 2015

Qazdar Karim · Jun 19, 2015

It's just that monza owners do not want to pay the whole fee (20 millions $) because they think that historic circuit needs some "advantages" which Bernies disagrees with

the_sigman · Jun 19, 2015

Imola has changed a little bit, as the final chicane is over. In F3 last year there was quite a lot of action in T1

But would like to see them both in every year, not exchanging

Darth · Jun 19, 2015

Imola is a really fun track. But as mentioned above not good enough
to replace Monza.

James Cook · Jun 21, 2015

Perhaps stop charging these exorbitant hosting fees that price-out the classic venues (like Monza and Nurburgring). It's going to rip the soul out of F1 in the end.

Darth · Jun 21, 2015

James Cook said:
Perhaps stop charging these exorbitant hosting fees that price-out the classic venues (like Monza and Nurburgring). It's going to rip the soul out of F1 in the end.

The only reason why those fees are still so high is because people still pay money
to go there.
What needs to be done is a proper boikot of a couple of races.

Sennalex · Jul 3, 2015

Imola became a better track since it was renovated in 2008 with a better pitlane and without the last chicane. It is a good track but F1 cars would not reach their top speed. The top speed at Monza is usually 350 kph (217 mph) and 360 kph (223.7 mph) with DRS open in main straight. The top speed at Imola (with older track) was 280 kph (174 mph)