Motor racing-Imola emerges as possible F1 season-ender, Malaysia return imminent

Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat owns Formula One champions McLaren.

If confirmed, Imola would be the first season-ending race in Europe since Spain's Jerez circuit hosted the finale in 1997.

With Ferrari in the hunt for a first Formula One title of any sort since 2008, an Italian finale would also be likely to be well attended.

Portugal's Portimao circuit had previously been considered a likely alternative, along with the Istanbul circuit, but construction work in the winter months ahead of their returns to the calendar in 2027 could make that difficult.

Malaysia is set to slot in on October 4, between Azerbaijan on September 26 and Singapore on October 11, as a replacement for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was called off in April along with Saudi Arabia's race in Jeddah.