The Price of Soul
Is there still room in Formula 1 for places that matter more than they profit?
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“If we don’t come back here next year, it’s really a shame.” – Oscar Piastri
“I love Imola, I love Italy. I really hope we can race here again next year.” – Franco Colapinto
“Losing Imola would be a disgrace. These are the tracks that made me fall in love with racing.” – Max Verstappen
Every Formula 1 circuit has a story.
But only a few have a soul.
The tifosi crowding the fences like church on Easter. The pit lane steeped in memory, grief, and triumph. This is a piece of living history in the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna.
And now, it’s fighting for its future.
A Priceless Weekend—With a Price Tag
The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was a triumph by every metric. Over 240,000 fans. €21 million in revenue. A sold-out, three-day festival of speed that felt more like a pilgrimage than a sporting event.
But Formula 1 is no longer just about legacy. It's about leverage.
Liberty Media, the sport’s American owners, want €60 million annually to keep Imola on the calendar long-term. That figure has doubled in recent years. And while ticket sales brought in €18 million net, and government support totals €22 million, there’s still a gaping hole in the ledger.
In other words, soul alone doesn’t pay the sanctioning fee.
The Fight to Stay on the Grid
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, as part of the Infrastructure Decree Law, approved this week by the Council of Ministers, has allocated €5.25 million for 2025 and €5 million euros per year from 2026 to 2032 in favor of ACI for the organization of the GPs that will take place in Imola and Monza.
But good intentions don’t close financial gaps.
What makes this even more fragile is the uncertain future of the Madrid Grand Prix. Political battles and noise complaints could delay or even derail the Spanish capital’s flashy street circuit, which is meant to debut in 2026. Imola might be the first reserve if it stumbles, ready to reclaim its spot.
For now, it’s banking on being Plan B in a sport that only has room for A-list spenders.
San Marino’s Ghost and the Return of Rotation
There’s talk of a rebrand. The San Marino GP name—used in the Schumacher era—could return, especially with the San Marino Automobile Federation re-entering discussions with the FIA. It’s a smart move. A “new” name, but the same track. It's a little political magic to justify two Italian races.
There’s also the possibility of rotating legacy circuits. Spa, Barcelona, and Imola alternating seasons. It’s not ideal, but it's survival.
And maybe survival is enough for now.
What Are We Willing to Lose?
Max Verstappen says Imola must stay. The crowds say it louder. But Liberty Media’s ledger doesn’t listen to nostalgia.
This is the deeper tension—between soul and spectacle, between tradition and television rights, between places that made the sport and cities that can afford to buy into it.
Imola is asking: Is there still room in Formula 1 for places that matter more than they profit?
It’s a question that echoes far beyond one Italian circuit. It cuts to the core of what kind of sport Formula 1 wants to be.
You can build a calendar of Miami pool parties and Las Vegas light shows. But take away places like Imola, and the whole thing feels hollow.
Because at some point, you have to ask:
Is Formula 1 selling tickets?
Or selling its soul?
Formula 1 may never return to Imola, and many fans are deeply disappointed by this possibility.
Sign the petition and support the renewal of the Imola GP.
The future of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola is more uncertain than ever, and GPKingdom has decided to take action by launching a public petition asking Formula 1 not to remove Imola from the calendar in the coming seasons.
PETITION – CLICK TO SIGN AND KEEP IMOLA IN F1
But behind the poetry of motorsport, there’s also the reality of the numbers: the economic impact of the Imola GP is estimated to exceed €300 million per year. An event that supports businesses, families, and communities. Yet, despite a promise — never formally kept — to reschedule the 2023 race that was canceled due to floods, Imola is at serious risk of disappearing from the calendar after 2025.