Italian Grand Prix cancellation is ‘fake news’

Automobile Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani has labelled reports of the Italian Grand Prix being cancelled as “fake news”.

Reports in the German press suggested that the race at Monza would not be going ahead at all this year due to global pandemic, but Damiani has insisted that is not the case and they are still planning to hold a race in some form.

“We are convinced that Monza will be there, although almost certainly behind closed doors,” Damiani told Sky Sport 24 in Italy.

“We don’t understand why fake news about a cancellation of the Italian GP from the 2020 calendar has come out.

“We don’t have the crystal ball to know what will happen in early September.

“We hope the emergency is over, we are hoping for a miracle, but today we are gearing up for a closed-door GP.”

Damiani also ruled out the possibility of Monza running a race on a reversed track, saying it simply was not possible.

“No, the circuits have one way to go,” he said.

“With all the barriers, the kerbs and the structure of the entire circuit, it is made to be run one way.

“That’s why you can’t think of doing hard, expensive work with [new] spaces and escape routes for the other direction.”

The Italian Grand Prix was originally slated for September 6 on what was supposed to be a record-breaking 22-race schedule in 2020.

Formula 1 is now working towards potentially starting the season in July with Austria hosting the first race at the Red Bull Ring and followed by the British Grand Prix at Silverstone the week after.

Both races would be behind closed doors.

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