Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2026
Racing returns to the sacred ground of Imola — one of the most technically demanding and historically significant circuits in the world, set in the heart of Italy's Motor Valley.
Circuit Facts
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
1980 (San Marino GP)
19
Anti-clockwise
1:15.484 — Bottas (2020)
About Imola — Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola is among the most evocative circuits in the history of Formula 1. Named in honour of Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino, the circuit sits on the banks of the Santerno river just outside the medieval town of Imola in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. It first hosted an F1 race in 1980 as the San Marino Grand Prix — a separate Italian race from Monza — and returned to the calendar in 2020 after a 14-year absence, quickly earning a permanent place once again as one of the most beloved venues in the sport.
Imola is one of very few circuits that runs anti-clockwise, which places unusual lateral loads on drivers and tyres. The layout features almost no meaningful overtaking opportunities — the narrow track bordered by barriers and gravel demands absolute commitment from drivers who have little margin for error. The circuit's character is defined by fast, flowing corners separated by heavy braking zones, testing every aspect of a car's performance package.
The circuit carries profound emotional weight. During the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, both Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives here — events that fundamentally changed the safety culture of Formula 1. A memorial to Senna at the Tamburello chicane draws visitors from around the world, and the Italian tifosi who pack the hillside grandstands bring an intensity and passion that makes Imola one of the most atmospheric venues anywhere on the calendar.
Key Corners
Imola's narrow, anti-clockwise layout is relentlessly technical — drivers must thread the car through barriers with almost no room for error on every single lap.
Tamburello Chicane
Once a fearsome flat-out left-hand sweep and the location of Ayrton Senna's fatal accident in 1994, Tamburello was converted to a chicane for safety. It remains the most emotionally charged corner in motorsport, with a permanent memorial to Senna that is visited by fans throughout the year.
Tosa Hairpin
The sharpest hairpin on the circuit and one of the few genuine overtaking opportunities at Imola. Drivers brake heavily from high speed before this slow right-hander, and a good exit onto the following uphill section is critical for carrying momentum through the middle sector.
Acque Minerali
A challenging fast-chicane complex midway through the lap where the circuit climbs and dips over a crest. Getting the car's balance right here is critical for lap time, and running aggressively over the kerbs can unsettle the car, cause flat-spots, and increase tyre wear.
Rivazza Hairpins
The double Rivazza hairpins at the end of the lap lead onto the final section back to the pits. A late dive into Rivazza 1 can be a race-deciding move, but the narrow exit and proximity of the barriers means the risk-reward calculation is always finely balanced.
Race Atmosphere
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix brings together Italy's most passionate motorsport fans in an intimate, almost amphitheatre-like setting. Unlike Monza's vast park, Imola's hillside grandstands and natural banking place spectators right on top of the action, giving the event an intensity that rivals any circuit on the calendar. The proximity of Imola's medieval town centre means the race has a distinctly Italian character — local restaurants, bars, and piazzas fill with fans on race weekend, creating a street festival that extends well beyond the circuit gates.
Imola is also Ferrari country — the Scuderia's headquarters in Maranello is just 30 km away, and the tifosi in the red grandstands are among the most knowledgeable and passionate Ferrari supporters to be found anywhere in the world. When a Ferrari leads at Imola, the roar from the crowd echoes across the Santerno valley.
Tyre Strategy
Imola is a Medium/Hard compound circuit where strategy is dictated as much by track position as tyre life. Because overtaking is so extremely difficult, teams cannot rely on raw pace to make up places on track — a well-timed undercut or overcut in the pit stops becomes the primary tool for gaining positions. Tyre degradation is moderate, and a one-stop race is usually viable if track position can be maintained.
The key strategic decision is whether to undercut a rival early and defend on older tyres, or run long on the first stint to attempt an overcut. With safety cars relatively rare here, qualifying position carries disproportionate importance.
How to Watch the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in the UK
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 in the UK, covering all practice sessions, qualifying, and the race. Imola operates on CEST (UTC+2) during the summer, which is one hour ahead of UK BST, meaning the race typically starts at 3pm local time / 2pm UK time — a comfortable Sunday afternoon slot.
Channel 4 provides free-to-air highlights after the race. Live streaming is available via Sky Go or a NOW TV Sports Pass for those without a full Sky subscription. Visit our TV schedule page for confirmed session times.
Previous Emilia Romagna GP Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |