"Madrid over Imola is a disgrace" Fans react to 2026 F1 calendar where Imola GP is axed for Madrid GP

F1 fans were far from happy with the latest Formula 1 calendar for the 2026 season. The recently released new schedule added Spain's second race (Madrid GP) by excluding Italy's second race (Imola GP), something that made the fans unhappy.

As per the new schedule, Australia starts off the season on March 6, followed by China and Japan. Formula 1 then moves to the Middle East for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP, and then to the United States for the Miami GP. After hosting the race in Canada, F1 returns to Europe for the European leg.

In Europe, F1 hosts the races at Monaco, Spain (Barcelona), Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Spain (Madrid), Azerbaijan and then moves to Asia. In Asia, the race in Singapore. The sport moves to the US again for the Austin race, followed by the Mexican and Brazilian races.

After Brazil, F1 returns to the US for the Las Vegas GP, and makes a comeback to the Middle East for the final two races — Qatar and Abu Dhabi GP. While the schedule is almost the same as that of 2025, the addition of the Madrid GP in place of Imola upset the fans.

Fans were unhappy with the way the organization left the Imola GP, one of the most iconic races in Europe, for a new street track race in the Spanish capital. They were downhearted to find that the race in Emilia Romagna will no longer hold a place because of yet another street circuit race.

As soon as the new F1 schedule for the 2026 season dropped on the internet, fans shared their reactions. Reacting to it, a fan wrote:

"Madrid over Imola is a disgrace. One of the best tracks in the world gone."

JX

@Jxly722

LINK

Madrid over Imola is a disgrace. One of the best tracks in the world gone."

Another wrote, "I thought we can’t have more than one race in a country… I see two countries where that’s happening. Bring back Imola."

Sarah Dye

@Sarah_Dye_

LINK

I thought we can’t have more than one race in a country… I see two countries where that’s happening. Bring back Imola

"No Imola? Soon Zandvoort & Spa will go the way of Hockenheim & Nurburgring. All the classic European tracks will soon be replaced by nonsense street tracks around the world. Shame," another fan wrote.

F1purist

@F1_Purist

LINK

No imola? Soon Zandvoort & Spa will go the way of Hockenheim & Nurburgring. All the classic European tracks will soon be replaced by nonsense street tracks around the world. Shame

"No, this is unacceptable! There should be no more than one race per country so others may experience the F1 spectacle, and the protection of heritage tracks should be forefront instead of street circuits. This is F1, not Indy," wrote a fan.

🅹🅸🅼🅼🆈 🅿🅴🅰

@JimothyPea

LINK

No, this is unacceptable!

There should be no more than one race per country so others may experience the F1 spectacle, and the protection of heritage tracks should be forefront instead of street circuits. This is F1, not Indy.

"Way to many “street circuits” let’s remove all real race tracks for the money......," another fan wrote.

"2 races in Spain and 3 in the US when you could race on Sepang, Hockenheim/Nürnburgring, Istanbul Park and Portimao… the people in charge are really not that smart," wrote a fan.

---

F1 boss let his feelings known on new Spanish F1 race, Madrid GP

Start of the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy on May 18, 2025 - Source: Getty

Formula One Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Domenicali, shared his thoughts on the new Formula 1 race, the Madrid GP, set to take place in Madrid next year. Speaking about this, he stated, via Aljazeera:

“We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac, and Ford join the Formula One grid.”

The 2026 Madrid GP will take place from September 11-13 next year at the Madring Circuit, featuring street and non-street sections. It will be the 16th round of the season.