Autodromo Imola holds a special place in Formula 1 folklore. The scene of fabled rivalries, Imola has played host to both triumph and tragedy since joining the calendar in 1980. Since 2020, the Italian circuit has been the home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
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Situated 40km east of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Imola first hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1980. The circuit appeared as host ofstaged the Italian Grand Prix once before securing an annual spot on the calendar with as home of the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006. After a fourteen year absence, Imola returned to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.
Imola’s Origins
The origins of the Imola circuit can be traced back to the end of the Second World War. Following the war, in an attempt to boost the local economy, it was proposed that a new road should be built linking the existing public roads. The town of Imola is located in an area known as ‘Motor Valley’, where many prominent Italian car manufacturers’ factories are based. It was suggested that the new road could be used for the manufacturers to test their new prototypes.
Construction began in 1950, easing unemployment rates in the local area. In 1952, F1 World Champion Alberto Ascari became the first driver to complete a lap of the track in a Ferrari. The Imola circuit opened as a semi-permanent venue in 1953.
Imola Joins the F1 calendar in 1980
With Monza undergoing renovations, Imola was called upon to host the Italian Grand Prix in 1980. This, however, was not the first time F1 machinery had powered around the track. The very first F1 race at Imola actually took place in 1963. The non-championship Imola Grand Prix was won by Jim Clark, who lapped almost the entire field on his way to victory. Three previous “Imola Grands Prix” had been held in the 1950s, but these were sports car races.
Sixteen years on from the non-championship F1 race held at the circuit in 1963, another non-championship race took place in 1979. This event was called the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix and was won by Niki Lauda.
READ MORE: 1979-80: A Legendary Grand Prix is Born at Autodromo Imola
Following the success of the 1980 Italian Grand Prix, Imola became a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar. The venue hosted the San Marino Grand Prix every year between 1981 and 2006, meaning that there were two races in Italy each season. The fast paced, anti-clockwise circuit was a hit with both drivers and fans. Legendary names such as Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell dominated at the venue throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Formula 1 endured one of its darkest weekends at Imola in 1994. Following a violent crash for Rubens Barrichello in Friday qualifying, in which the Brazilian was lucky to escape without serious injury, Roland Ratzenberger lost his life following a similarly severe accident during Saturday’s qualifying session. The 33 year old Austrian was only attempting to qualify for the third time in F1 with the Simtek team.
In the Grand Prix, three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna died as a result of a heavy crash at the Tamburello corner. There had been numerous crashes at this corner previously, notably for Nelson Piquet in 1987 and Gerhard Berger in 1989. Senna’s death brought the media spotlight onto the safety of Formula 1 and resulted in a number of immediate changes to the sport. Senna would be the last driver to die as a result of a crash in a Formula 1 race until Jules Bianchi over twenty years later.
The Imola circuit itself was re-profiled following the tragic events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend. Tamburello, once a ferocious flat out bend, was transformed into a chicane. There were further changes to the Villeneuve and Tosa corners in the biggest modification to the track layout since the venue opened.
The Latter Years of the San Marino Grand Prix
For some, Imola lost its spark following the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Track changes made the circuit a shadow of its former self. Nevertheless, the event remained popular, especially among Ferrari fans.
The Tifosi considered Imola as Ferrari’s home circuit when it was on the calendar, given that it is situated within 100km of the Scuderia’s Maranello factory. Between 1999 and 2006, at the height of Ferrari’s domination of Formula 1, Michael Schumacher delighted the Tifosi with six victories at the San Marino Grand Prix. In August 2006, it was announced that Imola would not return to the F1 calendar in 2007.
Track Renovations & F1’s Return
Following F1’s departure, the track underwent major renovations. In a project overseen by Hermann Tilke, the garages and paddock area were demolished and new, more modern facilities were built in their place. The track was also altered, with the final chicane – Variante Basse – removed, making the run along the pit straight between Rivazza and Tamburello much faster.
Formula 1 finally returned to Imola in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The circuit was added to the calendar as a replacement for other cancelled events. The Imola race was given a new title for its return – the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Originally intended to be a one-off return, the event was held again in 2021 as a replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix.
After signing a contract extension keeping the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on the F1 calendar until at least 2025, the event took place once more in 2022. Hosting the fourth round of the season – and the first race in 2022 to feature the Sprint format – the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the first F1 race at Imola with fans in attendance since the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. The weekend attendance was just under 130,000.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was due to be the sixth round of the 2023 season until the Wednesday before the race weekend, when the event was cancelled due to heavy flooding in the area surrounding the Imola circuit.
Autodromo Imola: Did You Know?
- The 1980 Italian Grand Prix, which took place at Imola, is the only time in F1 World Championship history that the Italian Grand Prix has not been held at Monza.
- Imola is one of few circuits to have hosted Grands Prix with different titles. In fact, it became the first to do so in 1981, when it hosted the first San Marino Grand Prix. In 2020, the re-naming of the event to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix made Imola only the second circuit, after the Nurburgring, to host Grand Prix events with three different titles.
- The Imola circuit’s full name is Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. In 1970, it was re-named in honour of Enzo Ferrari’s son Dino. Enzo’s own name was added to the title following his death in 1988.
- Michael Schumacher has the most victories at Imola, having won here seven times between 1994 and 2006.
- Only Mercedes and Red Bull have won at Imola since the circuit’s return to the calendar. Lewis Hamilton was victorious in the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen has won the last two races here.
READ MORE: Imola, Mio Amore: Remembering the 1993 San Marino Grand Prix
- The Drivers’ Championship has never been decided at Imola, but two Constructors’ Championship titles have been. Williams sealed their first title victory at the circuit in 1980, while Mercedes were crowned champions for a record-breaking seventh consecutive year in 2020.
- Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was born in the town of Imola.
- Yuji Ide lost his FIA superlicense as a result of a crash with Christijan Albers in the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix.
- The 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was F1’s first ever two-day weekend. Friday practice was scrapped for the event, with a single practice session taking place on Saturday morning before qualifying.
- The 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was only the third F1 race to be cancelled after personnel had arrived at the venue. The 1985 Belgian Grand Prix (which was later rescheduled) and the 2020 Australian Grand Prix are the only other times this has happened.
Memorable Moments at Imola
1982: Pironi and Villeneuve’s disagreement
Tensions rose at Ferrari during the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix. Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi went wheel-to-wheel behind the Renault of Rene Arnoux. With Arnoux later retiring, the Ferrari pairing’s fight became the battle for victory. With a 1-2 finish in sight, Ferrari instructed both of their drivers to slow down. While race leader Villeneuve interpreted this as an instruction to maintain position, Pironi did not. The Frenchman overtook his team-mate and went on to win the race. Villeneuve vowed to never speak to his team-mate again. The Canadian died two weeks later in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Their fallout was unresolved.
1989: Berger’s fireball crash
Gerhard Berger suffered a spectacular crash at the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix. On the fourth lap of the race, Berger’s Ferrari left the track at the Tamburello corner. Crashing at 180mph, on a full fuel load, the Ferrari burst into flames. The race was red-flagged as a result. Berger survived the impact and subsequent fire, butfire but missed the next race after while recovering from suffering broken ribs and second-degree burns.
WATCH THE VIDEO: Speed and Heartbreak: The Story of Imola In Formula 1
2005: Schumacher vs Alonso
One of the defining moments in Fernando Alonso’s maiden title-winning season took place at Imola. The 2005 San Marino Grand Prix is remembered for an epic duel between Alonso and rival Michael Schumacher. Schumacher stalked the Renault driver throughout the closing stages of the San Marino Grand Prix, but despite his best efforts, Alonso kept his cool and secured the win. Watch the highlights.
2021: Russell and Bottas collide
Mercedes’ protégé George Russell and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas came to blows at the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. On the slippery track, Russell attempted to overtake the Mercedes on the run to the Variante Villeneuve. However, Russell dipped a wheel onto the grass and speared into the side of his one-time teammate. Russell was unimpressed with the incident, claiming that Bottas moved into his path. The Williams driver later apologised to the Finn. Watch the incident.
Imola Facts
| Circuit Name | Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) |
| Race first held | 1980 |
| Track Length | 4.909km |
| Race Distance | 309.049km (63 Laps) |
| Lap Record | 1:15.484, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2020 |
| 2022 Result | 1st Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:32:07.986 |
| 2nd Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +16.527s | |
| 3rd Lando Norris (McLaren) +34.834s |
