Formula 1 | This weekend’s Formula 1 round has been cancelled

This weekend’s World Cup rounds in Formula 1 and Formula 2 have been canceled due to heavy flooding in Italy. The destruction in the area is extensive.

The Formula 1 organizer confirms the decision to cancel on its channels.

Heavy flooding and a river that has overflowed its banks close to the Imola track have created uncertainty about the completion of this weekend’s race. All personnel must have been told to stay away from the track on Wednesday.

Violent amounts of rainfall led to the parking facilities and other areas of the track being flooded and evacuated.

The authorities spoke up

The major flood has affected large parts of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. The destruction is enormous, and both state and local authorities are working hard to help those affected.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini asked on Wednesday that the weekend’s motorsport event be postponed. Among other things, he pointed out that all available resources must now be used for the ongoing emergency relief work. In addition, it is not desirable to burden the road network in the area more than absolutely necessary.

Salvini’s statements have been reproduced by, among others, Reuters and the major newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Paddock under water

According to the plan, both Formula 1 and Formula 2 were to have been run in Italy this weekend. Dennis Hauger is a Norwegian participant in the latter class.

NTB was in contact with Hauger manager Harald Huysmann on Thursday morning and was given access to a situation report from the management of MP Motorsport. There it was said, among other things, that the organizers had so far not given much concrete information about the consequences the flood could have on the driving at Imola.

At the same time, it emerged that the MP team had had to postpone setting up their paddock. A photo NTB was able to see shows that the area where it should have been established was under significant amounts of water.

Major floods

The city of Cesena, located 60 kilometers from Imola, is among those most affected by the flooding situation.

The news agency AP writes that residents in certain particularly vulnerable areas in Imola have been asked not to stay on the ground floor of their homes. Notices have also been sent out that the supply of electricity and gas must be turned off.

The weather forecast for the coming days is not critically bad, but more rain has been announced.

The Santerno River flows right next to the Imola circuit.

Several rivers in Italy have become flooded after days of downpour. Several towns in northern Italy were flooded on Tuesday, forcing some residents to get onto their roofs.

The team that is perhaps most disappointed by the postponement is Mercedes, which was supposed to have new parts of the car ready for this weekend’s race.

The team of Lewis Hamilton, who has previously won the world championship seven times, has struggled mightily to get things right, both last year and so far this year. There are many who are curious about what the new changes to the car will add to the car, who have not been able to keep up with Red Bull over a longer period.