Kimi Antonelli can achieve extraordinary feat that last happened in 1950 if new F1 calendar plan goes ahead
Formula 1 chiefs are considering whether to make a decision that could change the landscape of this year's Drivers' Championship fight, according to a new report.
The F1 calendar for 2026 currently stands at 22 races, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia having been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East.
It was expected that Bahrain would be re-added to the calendar after a ceasefire agreement was reached between US and Iran, but the conflict has since resumed.
The Race reported earlier this week that a decision over Bahrain's future was expected at the FIA's World Motor Sport Council meeting this weekend ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
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In addition, the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is said to be a 'leading contender' to return to the calendar for the first time since 2017.
READ MORE: Iconic F1 track now 'leading contender' to return to F1 calendar in 2026
The additional Grand Prix would likely be inserted into the gap between the races in Azerbaijan and Singapore in early October.
But now another proposal has emerged, with The Race now reporting that Imola could host a Grand Prix at the end of the 2026 season.
It wasn't included on the provisional calendar for 2026, though the Mayor of Imola, Marco Panieri, stated in March that the circuit was 'ready' to step in and host a Grand Prix if necessary.
"We wait without moving," he told Motorsport.com Italy.
"We would prefer the war to end. If there is a need, F1 knows that we would be ready to organise an event ... we have adopted a conscious attitude. We're not moving, but we'd rather wait."
READ MORE: F1 circuit chief issues statement over replacing Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on 2026 calendar
Antonelli can create F1 history at Imola
Even more significantly, it is claimed that it could replace Abu Dhabi as the season-ending Grand Prix amid doubts over whether that race, or the one before it in Qatar, can be held.
Abu Dhabi has hosted every season-ending race since 2013, though was subject to significant criticism from fans over its lack of overtaking opportunities.
Organisers have improved the situation in recent years by re-designing parts of the circuit, and it is now easier to get overtakes done around the 5.281-kilometre track.
According to a Reddit post from user Adventurous-Gap-7935, the average number of overtakes per race improved from 28.5 before the 2021 layout to 74.5 after the change.
Imola, in comparison, had over 40 overtakes in 2025 - albeit helped by a safety car period - compared to only 30 in 2024.
While the Imola race was previously referred to as the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006 because of the existence of the Italian Grand Prix, the race circuit itself is actually in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Therefore, it is a home race for Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who is currently leading the Drivers' Championship.
Should the Drivers' Championship go down to the final race, and Imola is hosting it, Antonelli can become only the second driver in the history of Formula 1 to win the title at their home Grand Prix.
Only Italy's Giuseppe Farina, who won the inaugural F1 Drivers' Championship in 1950, has achieved the feat.
Antonelli is 45 points ahead of nearest challenger Lewis Hamilton at the top of the 2026 standings after winning the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend.
Starting with the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, there are provisionally 12 races left in the F1 season but that number is subject to change.
Ryan Smart