Andrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted his disappointment after Imola missed out on hosting the final race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, denying the newly crowned world champion the opportunity to celebrate his historic title in front of his home supporters. The Mercedes driver had hoped the Italian circuit would replace Abu Dhabi amid uncertainty surrounding the Middle Eastern Grands Prix, but Formula 1 has decided to maintain its original calendar.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the prospect of finishing his championship-winning season just a short distance from his hometown of Bologna would have been particularly special. Although that opportunity has now disappeared, the young Italian has also revealed plans for an international karting circuit in San Marino, potentially capable of hosting world-level competitions.
Imola misses out on 2026 F1 season finale despite Middle East uncertainty
The war in Iran had created an unexpected situation for the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, with Imola emerging as the leading candidate to replace Abu Dhabi as the venue for the championship’s final race. Tensions across the Middle East had cast doubt over whether the Grands Prix at Lusail in Qatar and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi could take place as originally scheduled.
However, despite the uncertainty, Formula 1 has decided to proceed with its existing plans. The championship’s reluctance to sacrifice the substantial financial contributions associated with the Middle Eastern races, together with MotoGP successfully holding its race weekend in Qatar, contributed to the decision to retain the original calendar.
The situation had previously raised questions about the future of the final rounds of the championship, with uncertainty surrounding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix becoming an important issue for Formula 1 organisers.
For Imola, the decision means another opportunity to return to the Formula 1 calendar has slipped away. For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it also removes the possibility of celebrating his historic first Formula 1 world championship in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Kimi Antonelli admits disappointment over missed Imola F1 return
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has never hidden his affection for Imola, a circuit located close to Bologna and one with which he has a strong personal connection. After his unfortunate experience at the venue during the 2025 season, the Mercedes driver had welcomed the prospect of another opportunity to race there.
The possibility of returning to Imola as the newly crowned Formula 1 world champion made the idea even more appealing. However, the Italian has now acknowledged that his hopes of a home race to conclude the 2026 campaign will not be realised.
“This year there was an opportunity to bring back the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, but unfortunately it won’t happen. Deep down, I was hoping it would. Finishing the championship in Italy with another home race would have been a dream, especially considering how things have gone this year,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli commented.
The young Mercedes driver also expressed his desire to see Imola become a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar, highlighting both the circuit’s history and the technical challenge presented by its traditional layout.
“It would be nice to have Imola as a permanent part of the calendar. I’d like to race at other places too, but Imola would be special. It’s a circuit I feel very attached to, and it’s very close to home. Apart from the history of the circuit itself, the layout is very old-school, very technical: it’s genuinely enjoyable to drive.”
Although the return of Formula 1 to Imola remains a difficult objective, the Italian circuit clearly retains a special place in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s ambitions. His desire to race there again reflects both his personal attachment to the venue and his appreciation of its distinctive characteristics.
Kimi Antonelli reveals plans for international karting circuit in San Marino
While restoring Imola to the Formula 1 calendar may prove challenging, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is also working on a different motorsport initiative in the nearby Republic of San Marino.
The Mercedes driver has plans for an international-standard karting circuit in the territory, with the ambition of creating a venue capable of hosting competitions at world championship level.
The proposed project represents a different opportunity to contribute to motorsport in a region with which Andrea Kimi Antonelli has close personal ties. Although it would not replace the experience of racing in Formula 1 at Imola, an international karting facility could provide San Marino with a venue capable of attracting significant competitions.
For now, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s hopes of finishing his breakthrough championship-winning season on home soil have been put on hold. However, his ambition to see Imola return to Formula 1 remains intact, while the proposed karting circuit offers another potential chapter in his involvement with motorsport beyond his driving career.
More news about Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Stefano Domenicali celebrates Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s historic world championship triumph
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s father reveals when he recognised his son’s world championship potential
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli explains his decision not to use number 1 in 2027
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