Stefano Domenicali reacts to calling off F1 GP in his home town Imola due to flood devastation

Stefano Domenicali reacts to calling off F1 GP in his home town Imola due to flood devastation. Stefano Domenicali reacts to calling off Imola GP.

No Formula 1 race at Imola
The inevitable has happened. Racing in Imola this weekend was simply not possible: a Grand Prix is not just about Sunday, and even if the weather conditions had improved in the following days, it would have been impossible to make the logistical preparations work, not to mention the movement of spectators to the circuit and the necessary human respect for a tragedy that has struck the Emilia-Romagna region.

The long-awaited decision arrived just a few minutes ago, after a meeting between Formula 1, FIA, local authorities, and the Grand Prix promoter. There will be time to think about the future: there is talk of a race in the summer, maybe after Spa, but ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani is pushing for a rescheduling in 2026. Imola’s current contract expires in 2025.

Ben Sulayem’s comments
The top authorities in motorsport have commented on the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place this weekend at the 4.909-kilometre Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, commonly known as Imola. These are the words of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: “My thoughts and those of the entire FIA family are with the people affected by the terrible situation in Emilia-Romagna. The safety of all those involved and recovery efforts are the top priority at this time.” – he pointed out.

Stefano Domenicali’s statements after the official cancellation of the Imola race:
“It is an immense tragedy what happened in Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the city and region where I grew up. My thoughts and prayers go to the flood victims and the affected families and communities,” added Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali. “I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the incredible emergency services who are tirelessly working to help those in need and alleviate the situation. They are heroes, and all of Italy is proud of them. The decision that has been made is the right one for everyone in the local communities and for the Formula 1 family because we must ensure safety and not create additional burdens for the authorities as they face this terrible situation.” – former Scuderia Ferrari boss and current Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali concluded.