Could Naples join the F1 calendar? “It’s a one-of-a-kind circuit”. Aurelio De Laurentiis dreams of bringing Formula 1 to Naples.

Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, has a dream: bringing Formula 1 to the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

Aurelio De Laurentiis is not satisfied with success on the football pitch alone. After winning two Serie A titles in three years and building a club structure considered among the most solid in Italian football, the president of Napoli is now pushing forward with an even bolder vision: bringing Formula 1 to Naples. It is an ambitious project that would require the combined efforts of institutions, entrepreneurs, and the city’s financial stakeholders.

Speaking during the Napoli Racing 2025 event, De Laurentiis explained that a circuit running between the Sorrento Coast, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, and the Phlegraean coast would deliver a visual impact comparable to, or even greater than, the most iconic tracks on the current Formula 1 calendar.

“We won’t have Monaco’s tax system, but our scenery would be unmatched.”

Naples also dreams of rallying and Formula E

De Laurentiis went even further, imagining a rally event along the winding roads of the Amalfi Coast, capable of offering a different route every single year. He then turned his attention to Formula E.

“Here we have scenery that allows us to create a new circuit every year, always extraordinary. If we take away the charm of the roar of the engines, we strip sport of one of its greatest emotions. When I was a kid, I used to take the keys of the family car and drive around a fountain at Cinecittà… and I caused quite a bit of trouble!”

Bringing Formula 1 to Naples is not impossible

Achieving such an ambitious goal would require a united front. De Laurentiis called on the entire city to work together, praising the efforts of Mayor Gaetano Manfredi.

“He doesn’t talk much, but he acts a lot. He is already president of the ANCI and could even become a national leader. He can help us bring Formula 1 to Naples. Unity is needed. Entrepreneurs, finance, institutions: everyone together. The more united we are, the more we can dispel the idea that certain things cannot be done in Naples.”

The Naples Grand Prix would not be an absolute novelty. Between 1954 and 1962, several Formula 1 World Championship races were held in the city, even though they did not count toward the final championship standings.