From internet hosting two Grands Prix lately, Italy now dangers disappearing from the calendar. The potential approval of the most recent Emergency Decree might result in a change within the presidency of ACI, a improvement that tremendously considerations Formulation 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. This state of affairs jeopardizes the ensures underpinning the latest renewal of the Italian GP till 2031, threatening Monza, Imola, and Sardinia’s presence within the Formulation 1 and WRC calendars.
The regulatory framework
The dangers for Formulation 1 in Italy stem from the most recent Emergency Decree awaiting approval, at present underneath joint evaluate by the Setting and Price range Committees. The invoice proposes introducing time period limits for public entities that additionally act as sports activities federations, together with ACI. There’s a risk that the rule might be made retroactive, triggering new elections for the presidency of the Vehicle Membership and invalidating Angelo Sticchi Damiani’s present fourth time period. Including to that is the 2025 Price range Regulation, whose Article 116 obliges ACI to pay €50 million yearly to the treasury, complicating—however not solely halting—the modernization of Monza’s Autodrome.
In an interview with the Italian media final September, the ACI president acknowledged the necessity to modernize the Monza Autodrome as a necessary situation for protecting the Grand Prix on the calendar: “An important factor of the contract is the completion of works which have but to be carried out. To resume the contract, we should guarantee these works are accomplished inside sure deadlines.” Not too long ago interviewed by *Autosprint*, Formulation 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reiterated this level, emphasizing the pivotal function of ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani: “Monza should modernize. I’ve to say that, on this regard, the ACI president has actually stepped up.”
The eventualities
Stefano Domenicali’s fundamental concern is the potential inner elections at ACI, which might disrupt the well-established collaboration with the present president—a priority he has not hesitated to specific. Based on info from *FormulaPassion*, the mandatory circumstances for sustaining not solely the Formulation 1 Grands Prix at Monza and Imola but in addition the WRC in Sardinia are in danger. This marks a sudden shift after the six-year extension of the Italian GP celebrated in 2024.
Notably, the renewal of the Monza GP till 2031, signed on November 27, got here only a month after Sticchi Damiani’s reelection on October 16, 2024. The present ACI president is a central determine within the relationship with Formulation 1, with Monza and Imola’s future relying not simply on monetary concerns but in addition on expertise and particular organizational abilities. “Actually, if Monza doesn’t meet its commitments, a powerful candidate with Imola is already ready,” Domenicali warned in *Autosprint*.
In actuality, each Italian Grands Prix are in danger. Stefano Domenicali’s feedback verify the potential of canceling the prevailing contract. Regardless of the renewal signed in November, the settlement features a termination clause at Formulation 1’s sole discretion if sure circumstances will not be met. Simply as there was reduction over the extension till 2031, the Italian GP is as soon as once more underneath menace, together with Imola’s place and Sardinia’s place within the WRC.