While the bad weather suffered by Emilia-Romagna has already claimed several victims, the Italian government has taken a position for a postponement of the Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend at Imola.
Tension increases around the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. While the rain continues to fall on the region, causing floods, the first report of which reported five victims, preparations for the sixth round of the 2023 F1 season are at a standstill. Indeed, after the evacuation ordered on Tuesday, the infrastructures of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari will not be accessible this Wednesday due to the risk of submersion.
While discussions are currently underway between the organizers of the Grand Prix, F1 and local authorities, the Italian government has taken a stand via its transport minister, Matteo Salvini. In comments relayed by Sky TG24, the latter “deems it appropriate to postpone the Grand Prix of Imola, scheduled for this weekend, given the meteorological emergency raging in Emilia-Romagna”. The one who is also Deputy Prime Minister asks that priority be given to “relief efforts”.
The Italian transport minister has called for this weekend’s race in Imola to be postponed because of bad weather ❌ pic.twitter.com/O5bfm8VkF7
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 17, 2023
The program potentially turned upside down?
While many roads in Emilia-Romagna are currently under water, doubts about whether the Grand Prix will take place this weekend are growing. Indeed, the event organized in Imola attracts a large crowd and its management in such weather conditions could prove problematic or even impossible.
Beyond a potential outright cancellation of the Grand Prix, an adaptation of the weekend program is possible. Indeed, with team personnel unable to access the circuit’s infrastructure in order to continue preparations for the weekend, this delay could push the organizers and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to act to condense the program for the weekend, in order to give the teams a little more leeway to be fully ready.And this while the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix must offer certain innovationsin particular with the imperative use of the three types of rubber during the qualifying session and a new rain tire that does not require electric blankets.
