The European start of Formula 1 next weekend in Imola falls through. The consequences of the severe storms are forcing the organizers to cancel.
The Formula 1 race planned for Sunday in Imola has been canceled due to heavy rain and flooding. The racing series announced on Wednesday that it was not safe to hold the Grand Prix in Italy under the current circumstances. “It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and security forces at this difficult time,” it said after consultations between the Formula 1 leadership and the responsible ministries, the regional administration and the Italian motorsport association.
In the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, where the Imola racetrack is located, heavy rain has been falling for days. The paddock at the race track was cleared on Tuesday for safety reasons because a nearby river was threatening to overflow its banks. No Formula 1 personnel were allowed to work on the course on Wednesday either. The preparations for the sixth round of the season were already considerably delayed.
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The Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini had already called for the Formula 1 race to be canceled on Wednesday in view of the situation. As infrastructure and transport minister, he spoke to the authorities and organizers of the Grand Prix, according to ministry circles on Wednesday.
In these days, all forces should be used to fight the storms and the floods, said Salvini from the right-wing populist Lega. In addition, it should be avoided that there is an overload in the affected areas due to the many visitors and cars.
The area on the Adriatic coast has been hit by severe storms since Tuesday. At least five people were killed, as Italy’s Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, confirmed on Wednesday. It is therefore still looking for a missing person.
Formula 1 and the teams expressed their condolences to those affected by the storm. The racing factories of the Ferrari and Alpha Tauri teams are also located near the circuit.
Source: Stern
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