This weekend’s Formula One race cancelled due to flooding in Italy

This weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in northern Italy was canceled Wednesday due to potentially deadly flooding in the region.

Formula One said it made the decision for safety reasons and to avoid an additional burden on the emergency services, after consulting Italian political figures.

“It is a tragedy to see what happened to Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the city and region where I grew up, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the floods and their families and communities,” the F1 president said. and CEO Stefano Domenicali said.

At least eight people have died in floods and more than 10,000 have been evacuated from their homes after rainstorms hit northern Italy, while electricity supplies and mobile phone networks have been severely affected. Thousands of fans are expected at the circuit, starting Friday, for practice sessions before the race, adding more burden to the already stretched transport system.

“I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the extraordinary emergency services that work so hard to help those who need help and alleviate the situation – they are heroes and all of Italy is proud of them,” Domenicali said. “The decision we have taken is the right one for everyone in the local community and the F1 family because we need to ensure safety and not put an extra burden on the authorities when dealing with this very bad situation.”

Formula One personnel had previously been told to stay away from the track after flooding hit large parts of the Emilia-Romagna region. Some residents of Imola, where the track is located, were warned to move to higher ground. The Santerno River runs alongside the track.

Matteo Salvini, the infrastructure minister in Italy’s government, called for the race to be canceled to allow resources and aid to flow to the areas hardest hit by flooding.

Ferrari backed the decision to cancel the race, with team principal Fred Vasseur saying it was “heartbreaking to see what people are going through now.”

Drivers returned the decision

Defending F1 champion and standings leader Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team said they also supported the decision, as did seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, of Mercedes.

“Thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy and the incredible emergency services working on the ground,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram. “I know we all know that safety comes first.”

It is the second race on the 2023 calendar to be cancelled. The Chinese Grand Prix was scheduled for April but was canceled in December due to concerns over pandemic-related restrictions.

If the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is ​​not rescheduled – something that seems unlikely on the packed F1 calendar – the season will have 22 races, the same as last year, instead of setting the record for most F1 races in a year with 23 races.