Confirmed: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cancelled as severe flooding hits region
Red flag waved by a marshal at Suzuka. Japan October 2022
Further significant rainfall and flooding in the area has led to the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola as focus switches to helping all those sadly affected.
Recent flooding and landslides in the region, which tragically claimed two lives and forced hundreds to flee their homes, had already placed huge strain on the emergency services and people impacted.
Hope had remained though that Imola could still play host to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, scheduled to be Round 6 of the F1 2023 campaign.
But in the days leading up to the event, heavy rain sadly returned, prompting a precautionary evacuation of all F1 staff from the circuit on Tuesday as water levels in the paddock increased while preparations were taking place for the event.
PlanetF1.com then learned that the paddock was declared a no-go zone on Wednesday, with word emerging that some members of the Alpine crew in Imola had been forced to evacuate their hotel, while some AlphaTauri personnel had left their homes and went to say in their nearby Faenza factory.
Formula 1 officials were duly busy in discussions during Wednesday morning over the fate of the race weekend, and the decision has now been made that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will not go ahead as planned.
A statement issued by Formula 1 read: “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.
“Following discussions between Formula 1, the president of the FIA, the competent authorities including the relevant ministers, the president of the Automobile Club of Italy, the president of Emilia Romagna region, the Mayor of the City and the promoter, the decision has been taken not to proceed with the Grand Prix weekend in Imola.
“The decision has been taken because it is not possible to safely hold the event for our fans, the teams and our personnel and it is the right and responsible thing to do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region.
“It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time.”