Formula 1 has announced that the 'Formula 1 Rolex Grand Prix Made in Italy Emilia-Romagna, at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola'; or as we know it, the Emilia-Romagna GP will remain part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2025. F1 returned to Imola in 2020 after a gap of 13 seasons during the disruptions caused by the global pandemic, and after successfully hosting 2 GPs in 2020 & 2021, F1 is set to return to the iconic circuit in 2022.
A still from the 2021 Emilia-Romagna GP that saw mixed weather conditions.
Imola hosted its first Grand Prix in 1980 in the form of the Italian GP, and following that the track hosted the San Marino GP from 1981 to 2006, as the Italian GP returned to Monza. However, ever since the 2017 car regulations came in place, Formula 1 had been skeptical about returning to Imola, as the new generation F1 cars were thought to be too wide to provide good displays of overtakes and racing for the narrow nature of the track.
This doubt was knocked away after F1 returned to the circuit and showcased a brilliant race during the 2020 season as multiple races had been canceled due to travel restrictions, and F1 was desperately trying to organize a respectably long calendar.
Aerial shot of the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola
Upon signing the agreement for the Emilia-Romagna GP, Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said, "I am delighted that we will be continuing our excellent partnership with Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix until 2025. The circuit is iconic and has been part of the history of our sport and they have done an incredible job of hosting two races during the pandemic."
"The event will allow us to turn the spotlight on both a region which is home to great champions and world-famous motorsport brands and Italy, a country rich in unique, internationally renowned excellence in all fields, starting from the automotive industry", President of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini added.
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Following the 2020 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and a few more cancellations in the 2021 F1 season, F1 returned to Imola in 2021 and provided the fans with an even more dramatic race, which solidified its existence on the F1 calendar for future seasons. The 2022 Emilia-Romagna GP will also host an F1 Sprint race, and with the new 2022 regulations for the F1 cars aiming to provide better racing already in place, it will be ever-so-exciting to see how the 2022 Emilia-Romagna GP will turn out to be.
