In a calendar Formula 1 with a total of 24 races, but with more and more countries interested in hosting an event, and in a context where urban races are becoming the preferred product of Liberty Media In order to attract the most VIP public and with greater economic possibilities, typical and historic circuits like that of Imola are set to suffer. The legendary route of Emilia Romagna, located near Maranello, where the headquarters of Ferrari is located, will have to continue fighting to achieve its continuity in a calendar that Liberty Media wants to continue to expand until perhaps reaching with 30 races a year in the future very close (if the teams and drivers do not object).
The man in charge of talks about Imola’s future in F1 is president of the Automobile Club Italia (ACI), Angelo Sticchi Damiani. At the presentation of the Emilia Romagna GP that will take place in Imola next week, Angelo referred to the need to “fight” the calendar and fight to stay on it.
“There is a bit of reflection that needs to be done in Formula 1, obviously. The situation, obviously, is complicated. And there will be the hope, which we want to work on, to recover the race in 2023 (which will not be held due to severe flood that hit the area) in 2026. That would be another small step forward and everything will depend a lot on what happens in Europe in the next two or three years,” said Sticchi Damiani about Imola’s contract. F1, which expires next year, in 2025.
“In Europe there are changes taking place, new candidacies, some are quite dangerous… the panorama is not only national, it is international and above all European. It is clear that when we talk about “-with the departure of the Grand Prix from Europe, we are thinking about the countries that have two, it seems clear to me… We must resist,” he added.
“Stefano Domenicali has done and is doing a great job. We must be grateful because it is not easy to maintain this position over time after the Covid tsunami, but it is a big help to us. What we did in 2020 will be down to history: three Successful F1 GPs and two World Rally Championship events are a guarantee of full points in F1 and in the World Rally Championship on the other hand trying to be competitive in the offer, in the hospitality… We will do everything we can as the Automobile Club of Italy,” added Sticchi Damiani in remarks reported by ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’.
“Make sure the GP is still here”
For his part, the President of the Emilia Romagna region, Stefano Bonaccini, is confident that Imola will not lose its Grand Prix: “When we returned Imola they told us it was impossible. After 110 years of history, returned we had the first stages of the Tour de France and they told us not to try because the Davis Cup (in Bologna) was impossible to come and they told us it was impossible because they were taking it away from us, the Imola Grand Prix is still here .”
Everything is ready after a difficult year
F1 will return this year to Imola after the natural disaster that Emilia Romagna experienced last year, with severe flooding that forced the cancellation of testing and affected thousands of people. For this reason, the mayor of Imola, Marco Panieri, emphasized the efforts of the entire region so that after a year everything is ready and ready for F1 to return to this mythical track.
“We are starting again after a very difficult year for our territory. The continuation represents the strength of a historic GP. The city is ready, has made many investments and will have many initiatives for this event. It is a opportunity to continue celebrating two great champions like Ratzenberger and Senna we look forward to an event full of passion and energy.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
