The battle over the future of the Italian Grand Prix appears to have drawn to a close. A new agreement between the relevant parties means that the race continue to be held for years to come – and held at Monza.
The issue stretches back over a year now to when Formula One’s ever-outspoken commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone cast doubt on the future of the Italian race and its viability in staying at its longtime home. Rival circuit Imola then threw its hat into the ring, hoping to pick up Monza’s slack and move the grand prix to its own facility.
But with the last contracted race taking place this weekend at Monza, Ecclestone and his local counterpart announced they’d come to an agreement. According to Autosport, the Italian Grand Prix will remain at Monza after the signing of a new three-year contract, set to be formalized in the UK in due course. “The contract is only for three years, but I hope we will be here for another 100,” said Ecclestone.
Angelo Sticchi Damiani, head of the Automobile Club d’Italia, dismissed the idea of Imola lodging a legal challenge to the Monza contract, noting mandates from both his organization and the Italian parliament to keep the race where it is.
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza, located on the outskirts of Milan, has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year since 1949, save for 1980 when it was briefly held at Imola. That circuit also hosted the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 through 2006, and has been fighting on and off since to bring F1 back to the Emilia region where it (and the supercar manufacturers in Modena and Bologna) are located.
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