Ferrari is preparing for a busy return to Imola, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc scheduled to take part in a two-day Pirelli tyre test following the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The Ferrari teammates are expected to be behind the wheel on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, as the tyre manufacturer continues preparations for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Alongside the Pirelli programme, Ferrari will also conduct a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) session at the historic Italian circuit. Junior drivers Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara, reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc’s brother Arthur are expected to share driving duties during the additional running. The tests will give Ferrari valuable track time while allowing Pirelli to gather data for its next-generation tyres.
Ferrari’s decision to return to Imola has also fuelled speculation about the circuit’s potential role in the closing stages of the 2026 championship. Imola is among the venues being considered as a possible replacement for the season finale if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are unable to take place. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali previously confirmed that the championship would finish somewhere in Europe should the Middle Eastern races be cancelled.
Domenicali explained that a final decision was not expected before the middle of September and stressed that several European options remained under consideration. Imola was specifically identified as one of the possibilities, although no agreement had been reached to make it the replacement venue. The situation has therefore left the Italian circuit firmly in the conversation as Formula 1 assesses its options for the end of the season.
The Imola test comes at a particularly significant moment, with a provisional 2027 F1 calendar also expected to be released this week. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are all reportedly set to feature on next year’s schedule, meaning the current uncertainty surrounding the Middle East races remains an important storyline. For Ferrari, however, the immediate focus will be on extracting useful information from its Imola running while Hamilton and Leclerc continue adapting to their second season t
ogether.
