FIA drops plans for Roman Grand Prix
The Formula One Supremo, Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Italy would be hosting no more than one race. The rumours of an expected Roman Grand Prix caught the limelight for the past few months. However, Ecclestone has finally stated that one race for
one country is enough, and the Italian city, Monza is going to stay on the calendar in the years to come.
Italian media reported on Thursday that Ecclestone has explained to the Italian capital's mayor, Gianni Alemanno that the Italian Grand Prix is going to stay on the schedule for a long time. However, he insisted that holding another Formula One event in
the same country would not be possible.
The Italian team, Ferrari also insisted last month the giving away two grand Prix to the same country did not seem logical. The Ferrari team boss, Stefano Domenicali believes that the race fans really enjoy the Italian Grand Prix, held at the historical
Monza track. He assured that people love the legendary Circuit and never wish to see it being skipped from the calendar.
As the Formula One calendar returned from the Italian Grand Prix in September last year, rumours were adrift that Ecclestone had met the officials of the EUR district in Rome. It was stated then that plans for a street race in Rome were discussed during
the meeting, with plans of first Formula One race in 2013. This meant that the future of Monza race was in jeopardy, as FIA had announced earlier that one country would host only one grand prix.
However, now while talking to the media, Ecclestone stated that calling quits to Italian GP was never an option. He added that instead of letting the same country host two races, it is better to let the Formula One circuits expand across the globe. The past
couple of years the sport has entered several new countries and the trend is expected to continue.
During the 2008 Formula One season, the Marina Bay Circuit held the first race ever on the Singapore soil. This race also marks the only night race ever held in Formula One’s history. In 2009, technically the most advanced track of the world, the Yas Marina
Circuit was taken in by the Formula One calendar. Moreover, the 2010 season held the inaugural Korean Grand Prix, while 2011 is going to see the Delhi international Circuit of India hold its debut race.
With all these inclusions and some more countries line up, the FIA’s decision of dropping the Roman Grand Prix seems to be in everyone’s interest.
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