The FIA has announced the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola will be cancelled for the 2023 season. The cancellation comes in response to extreme weather patterns in the area. The weather has raised safety concerns for staff and drivers traveling to the circuit. Drivers and teams appear to be in support of the cancellation given early report of mass flooding and road closures which would impact access to the venue. The FIA released the following statement via their twitter account.
It does not appear that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be added to the end of the season. The decision is welcomed after the 2020 season saw a debacle arise in a similar situation. The FIA was not decisive in cancelling a race in Australia. The lack of action in Australia was purely due to the financial aspects of the grand prix and not the safety of the drivers, staff and patrons. Many local citizens have lost their homes in the flooding in Italy. It appears the FIA has learned from the past and done the right thing by calling the race off. We will report more on this situation as additional details unfold.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “It is such a tragedy to see what has happened to Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the town and region that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected. I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the incredible emergency services who are working tirelessly to help those who need help and alleviate the situation – they are heroes and the whole of Italy is proud of them. The decision that has been taken is the right one for everyone in the local communities and the F1 family as we need to ensure safety and not create extra burden for the authorities while they deal with this very awful situation.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “My thoughts and those of the entire FIA family are with those affected by the terrible situation in the Emilia-Romagna region. The safety of everyone involved and recovery efforts are the top priority at this time.”
Ferrari Loses Home Race
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola is a home race for Ferrari. It will be a disappointment to see it removed from the schedule. However, safety is first in this sport and Ferrari will push their efforts towards Monaco later this month.
For more information check out F1.com