Yes, you have read that right. The 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is cancelled! Due to safety reasons, all parties involved in making the Formula 1 weekend’ possible decided the safety risk was too significant to justify the race going ahead.
The extreme flooding in northern Italy has caused several tragedies and is at risk of causing a landslide. A red weather warning was issued on Tuesday, and teams were told to evacuate until further news. Unfortunately, it didn’t end with the news that we wanted. Emilia Romagna is still in great danger, and the Grand Prix will not go ahead. It is also reported that it is ‘unlikely it will be rescheduled.’
Formula 1 released a statement this morning reading,
‘The Formula 1 community wants to send its thoughts to the people and communities affected by the recent events in the Emilia-Romagna region. We also want to pay tribute to the work of the emergency services who are doing everything they can to help those in need.’
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, also spoke on this breaking news.
“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 safety of everyone involved is of the utmost importance. Fans and drivers have shared their support online, agreeing that safety goes above the race. Teams have also released statements across social media, fully supporting the decision and sending their sympathy for the huge damage Emilia is currently facing.
The 2021 and 2022 world champion, Max Verstappen, commented.
"Safety and help for the people who really need it is the most important thing."
"That's where care should go first. So it seems only logical to me that we don't race at times like this."
We are missing the first of the Ferraris triple home races. And the first test for the new qualifying tyres is unlikely to be rescheduled. Where the second trial that is now the first will be held is yet to be disclosed by the FIA.
So, what is the new tyre qualifying format?
Q1: Hard tyres
Q2: Medium tyres
Q3: Soft tyres
The aim of this is to be more economical by cutting down the tyre usage. If it is successful, Formula 1 could save 3,680 tyres a season.
This season will now be the same length as last, with the absence of Imola. Heating the battle for the world championship even more. Only 14 points separate teammates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Mercedes has also suffered a blow from the cancelled weekend, with them making their ‘first major upgrade’ for the Imola race. They currently sit in third and 128 points away from Red Bull. In a team debrief, a Mercedes engineer, Andrew Shovlin, explained he knew back in the Bahrain test that they didn’t have the package to allow them to fight for the championship.
Hamilton has been ‘counting down the days’ for the new upgrade on the notorious Mercedes.
For now, our thoughts are with those affected, and we praise the emergency services that are bravely handling this devastating situation.
Megan Taylor
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