Images of rainfall and flooding have dominated F1 news in recent weeks as concerns about the Imola GP have grown. The decision has now been taken to cancel the Imola GP, as flooding continues to impact the region.
Weather forecasts have painted a worrying picture for weeks, with the Emilia Romagna region in Italy suffering from unprecedented levels of rain and subsequent flooding ahead of the Imola GP.
Team personnel were told to evacuate the circuit on Wednesday as rainfall intensified, with a similar message communicated for Thursday as further assessments and evaluations were made.
The situation has not improved, with significant portions of the F1 paddock submerged. Infrastructure was also compromised, making the chances of hosting a race weekend almost nil.
Prioritising resources on protecting the local population takes priority over hosting a Grand Prix weekend, so the choice to cancel this weekend’s event is sensible.
Stefano Domenicali, F1 CEO, has released the following statement:
“It is such a tragedy to see what has happened to Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the town and region that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected.
“I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the incredible emergency services who are working tirelessly to help those who need help and alleviate the situation – they are heroes, and the whole of Italy is proud of them.
“The decision that has been taken is the right one for everyone in the local communities and the F1 family as we need to ensure safety and not create extra burden for the authorities while they deal with this very awful situation.”
