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F1's goodbye to Imola? Images from classic track over the years

Fans rush to see the podium celebrations following the 1996 San Marino Grand Prix Getty Images

Fans rush across the Imola tarmac to get a glimpse of the podium celebrations of race winner Damon Hill of Williams, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and Gerhard Berger of Benetton in 1996

After the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and with talk that the circuit will be dropped from the F1 calendar, we have collated a selection of pictures from Imola over the years.

The 4.909km anti-clockwise track is a favourite among drivers because of its mix of fast and slow corners, elevation changes and challenging chicanes.

It made its F1 debut in 1980, staging the Italian Grand Prix while Monza was being redeveloped. From 1981, Imola became the home of the San Marino Grand Prix until 2006, before returning to the calendar as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.

The tragic events of 1994 is probably what Imola is most known for; a weekend when both Austrian Roland Ratzenberger and three-time world champion Ayrton Senna lost their lives.

Take a trip back through the highs and lows of Imola...

Verstappen makes an early move - 2025

Max Verstappen overtakes Oscar Piastri for the race lead in Imola PA Media

Grid position is key at the narrow Imola circuit and securing pole position can greatly boost your chances of a race win. McLaren's Oscar Piastri started ahead of Max Verstappen on the front row in 2025 but it was the Red Bull driver who made a bold move at the Tamburello chicane on the opening lap to the Australian and take control of the grand prix.

Pironi enrages Villeneuve - 1982

Didier Pironi es Gilles Villeneuve during the 1982 San Marino Grand PrixGetty Images

In 1982, tensions flared between Ferrari team-mates Gilles Villeneuve (left) and Didier Pironi. Canadian Villeneuve was leading Frenchman Pironi, with third-placed Michele Alboreto far behind. Villeneuve expected that they would follow Ferrari protocol and remain in that position, but Pironi ed him on the final lap to take the win. Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again. Still furious at what he considered a betrayal, he died in a crash in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks later.

Paying tribute to an icon - 2024

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel drives Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/8 as a tribute to mark 30 years since his death at the San Marino Grand PrixGetty Images

On the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's death in 2024, fellow multiple world champion Sebastian Vettel drove the Brazilian's race-winning McLaren MP4/8 from 1993 as part of a tribute run, to the delight of the packed crowds inside the circuit.

Sebastian Vettel (C), Bianca Senna (R) and Lalalli Senna (L) pose for a photo at Imola in 2024Getty Images

Senna's nieces, Lalalli (left) and Bianca (right) ed Vettel at Imola and the rest of the paddock for the 'Forever Senna' tributes, bringing along one their uncle's famous race helmets.

The first F1 World Championship race - 1980

Keke Rosberg in the Fittipaldi-Ford F8, Eddie Cheever in the Osella-Ford FA1 Derek Daly in the Tyrrell-Ford 010 and Jan Lammers on track in Imola during the Italian Grand Prix in 1980Getty Images

1980 was Imola's first appearance as a championship F1 race and it was awarded the honour of hosting that year's Italian Grand Prix - an event won by Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, driving for Brabham. From 1981 up until 2006, Imola adopted the title 'San Marino Grand Prix' instead, hosting a total of 27 grands prix.

Imola makes its return - 2020

Lewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes in 2020 in Imola Getty Images

Imola made its return to Formula 1 after a 14-year absence during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. With many races cancelled and the schedule disrupted, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was added to the revised calendar as a one-off event taking place in November. With no fans present, residents in the neighbouring houses got to see Lewis Hamilton take victory for Mercedes.

Alonso versus Schumacher - 2005

Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher battling at the San Marino Grand Prix in 2005. Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, now 43, drives for Aston Martin these days but in 2005, the Spaniard was racing for Renault and battling on the Imola track with Ferrari's seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Alonso beat the German to the race win, sealing his third consecutive victory of what would be his first championship season.

Schumacher retires his Benetton - 1992

Michael Schumacher stands besides his Benetton after retiring from the 1992 San Marino Grand Prix Getty Images

Michael Schumacher is the king of Imola, winning at the historic circuit a record seven times during his career. However, in 1992, it was a different story, as the German suffered his first retirement of the season for Benetton after he spun into the tyre wall when he and team-mate Martin Brundle were hustling McLaren's Gerhard Berger on lap 21.

Imola's darkest weekend - 1994

Williams team watch on as medics attend to Ayrton Senna on track at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 Getty Images

On 1 May 1994, of the Williams team, along with the rest of the world, watched on anxiously as medics tried to save the life of their iconic driver Ayrton Senna. The 34-year-old crashed into a concrete barrier at the Tamburello corner because of a mechanical failure on his car and died a few hours later in a hospital in Bologna. His death came the day after Simtek's Roland Ratzenberger had been killed in a crash during qualifying.

Fans leave tributes to Ayrton Senna at the memorial statue in Imola Getty Images

In the aftermath of Senna and Ratzenberger's deaths 31 years ago, Imola was given a revamp, with two chicanes added to the circuit to improve safety. The monument at Tamburello has become a pilgrimage for fans; a lasting reminder of Senna's legacy within Formula 1.

The other Schumacher wins - 2001

Ralf Schumacher of has champagne poured all over him for winning the race from McLaren-Mercedes driver David Coulthard (left) of Great Britain and Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello in 2001Getty Images

A Schumacher stood on the top step of the Imola podium in 2001, but it wasn't Michael who claimed the race victory - it was his brother Ralf. Driving for Williams, the younger Schumacher beat McLaren's David Coulthard and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello to the chequered flag, while Michael's day in the other Scuderia ended in retirement.

Famous corner names - 2025

Cars fans at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 2025 Getty Images

One of the reasons fans love the old-school charm of Imola is that it's one of the few circuits left on the calendar that has corner names, not just numbers. In sequence, they are Tamburello, Villeneuve, Tosa, Piratella, Acque Minerali, Variante Alta and Rivazza. In 2006, Variante Bassa was removed and a new pit lane and start-finish complex were built.

Prost–Senna rivalry - 1989

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost lead the field at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1989 Getty Images

Senna won three times in Imola and took a record eight pole positions, but his second victory on Italian soil saw his rivalry with then McLaren team-mate Alain Prost turn sour. Following a red flag and delay for a terrifying accident involving Gerhard Berger's Ferrari on lap four, Senna overtook Frenchman Prost - who had been leading before the accident - halfway round the first lap after the restart, apparently reneging on a pre-race agreement.

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