F1 told to drop 'historic' European track from calendar

Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok has suggested the famed Imola circuit should be dropped from the race calendar.

Imola was once a long-standing fixture on the F1 schedule but tumbled off it following the 2006 season.

During the COVID-19-impacted 2020 campaign, Imola returned and has been present ever since, running under the banner of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Its current contract runs out at the end of 2025.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently stated rotational European events would soon be included on the calendar, placing Imola's permanent presence at risk.

When asked what track on the current calendar he would sacrifice, Chandhok told Sky F1: “I would drop Imola. 

“It's a fantastic venue to go to, it’s obviously historic. In qualifying, it's a very exciting track to watch and for the drivers [to take part in].

“But it's too narrow for the racing nowadays, with the size of the cars we've got, I think F1 has outgrown it. We're not seeing much overtaking there.”

Chandhok reveals pick for F1 race return

While suggesting Imola's time has run in F1, Chandhok highlighted his desire to see the German Grand Prix return.

The event has not been held since 2019, however, the Nürburgring hosted a round in 2020 - albeit under the Eifel Grand Prix label.

Nurburgring and Hockenheim rotated races yearly before both departed due to financial constraints. Chandhok, though, feels F1 is lacking a race in Germany. 

“Which one would I replace it with?' queried Chandhok. "I feel like we need a German Grand Prix back on the track.

“It feels really strange to have an F1 calendar without a German Grand Prix and a French Grand Prix.

“There’s obviously Mercedes, and we have such a long lot of German influence in the sport, the time with [Sebastian] Vettel and [Michael] Schumacher and all that sort of stuff.

“It feels a bit odd not to have a German Grand Prix.”

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