The emergency situation in Italy and the cancellation of the race in Imola are particularly affecting the head of Formula 1 and the Ferrari team. The organizers are spared at least one million payment.
Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali was particularly touched by the consequences of the severe storms that led to the cancellation of the race in Imola. “It’s such a tragedy to see what happened to Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the city and region where I grew up,” said the racing series’ managing director. The 58-year-old was born in Imola and was also team boss at Ferrari for a long time.
The Scuderia has its race factory in Maranello, around an hour’s drive from the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. “Emilia-Romagna is our home. It’s heartbreaking what people are going through right now,” said new Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur. Even if the Grand Prix planned for Sunday as the sixth round of the season had been a home race for Ferrari, the racing team supported the decision to cancel.
The area on the Adriatic coast has been hit by severe storms since Tuesday. At least eight people were killed. “I know we all understand that safety comes first,” wrote record world champion Lewis Hamilton on Instagram.
It is hardly likely that the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna can be made up for this year. The calendar is packed, and the teams are unlikely to agree to a shortened summer break. Because the cancellation was due to force majeure, the track operator in Imola at least does not have to pay the million-dollar fees for the race to Formula 1. However, tens of thousands of ticket holders will probably have to be compensated. The contract for Formula 1 races in Imola runs until 2025.
Source: Stern
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