Is Imola the Frontrunner for the F1 Season Finale?

According to reports from The Race, Italy's Imola circuit is emerging as a leading candidate to host the Formula 1 season finale. This could see the track overtake Portimão in the race to replace potentially canceled Middle Eastern races.

Ongoing military actions between the United States and Iran have already led to the postponement of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As regional instability persists, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, slated to conclude the campaign, appear increasingly at risk of removal from the calendar.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was salvaged and has now been confirmed to take place at Malaysia's Sepang circuit on October 4th. This creates a triple-header alongside Azerbaijan and Singapore, a logistically convenient, albeit unusual, solution.

Uncertainty now extends further into the calendar, with questions surrounding how Formula 1 will conclude the season. Holding an additional round in early December, two weeks after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, is currently considered the most viable option if both Qatar and Abu Dhabi are dropped.

This, combined with the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia, would restore the schedule to 22 races, satisfying key commercial obligations.

Portimão was previously considered the frontrunner for such a role, given the Algarve circuit team's experience in hosting the Portuguese Grand Prix and its relatively mild December climate.

However, doubts have arisen regarding the Portuguese circuit's readiness. The track has a two-year contract to host the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2027 and 2028, and it's understood that its management aims to undertake significant infrastructure improvements before these events – activities that could be compromised by hosting a race in December.

This has opened the door for Imola, which is now firmly on Formula 1's list of candidates. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari has prior experience hosting late-season events, having returned to the calendar in November 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, before reappearing in 2022 as a substitute for the Chinese Grand Prix. A subsequent three-year contract secured its place on the calendar until 2025.

A December race at Imola would present a significant challenge, as average daily temperatures are a mere 7°C, making tire warm-up particularly difficult.

Nevertheless, there are compelling arguments in its favor: Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a favorite to win this season's drivers' title, Ferrari remains in contention for the constructors' championship, and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is a native of Imola. Though the latter holds little practical significance.