F1 Today | F1 faces unusual Imola finale as NASCAR contenders trade punches after crash

If Formula 1 ultimately heads to Imola for the 2026 season finale, the championship decider could look very different from a traditional European Grand Prix. The race would have to start considerably earlier than the usual 3:00 p.m. local time due to the limited daylight available in early December.

The possibility of an Imola finale has already led teams to prepare behind the scenes, with hotels across the surrounding area reportedly booked up by F1 personnel. However, no official decision has yet been made, with FOM continuing to publicly maintain that the season will conclude as scheduled in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

The main issue with Imola would be the time of sunset. On December 6, the sun is expected to set at around 4:34 p.m. local time, while the circuit does not have the lighting infrastructure required to host an F1 race after dark. As a result, the Grand Prix would need to begin around midday or shortly afterwards, with a start between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. currently expected.

That change would also have a knock-on effect on the rest of the weekend. Friday's practice sessions would likely be moved towards the morning and early afternoon, while Saturday's timetable would also need to be adjusted. Qualifying, normally scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at European rounds, would therefore have to take place earlier as well.

A heated confrontation erupted at Bristol after NASCAR Cup Series contenders Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar came to blows following an on-track incident. The two drivers were fighting for second place in the final stage when Hocevar sent Blaney into the wall, prompting the Team Penske driver to seek him out after the incident.

Blaney confronted Hocevar, who did not back down and responded by throwing a punch of his own. The clash added another layer of drama to an already intense battle between two drivers still in contention for the championship.

Hocevar later acknowledged why Blaney was furious, admitting that the incident could have had major consequences for his rival's title hopes. The 23-year-old also revealed that he had never punched another driver before, although he was unsure whether his punch connected cleanly or whether Blaney simply stumbled during the confrontation.