Organisers hint at 'agreement' over Italian and Emilia-Romagna GP extensions

The president of the Italian motorsport governing body has indicated that an agreement is near for the country to continue to host two Grands Prix until 2030.

As part of the COVID-19 hit 2020 season, F1 returned to Imola for the first time since 2006, and has remained on the calendar ever since, although it was cancelled in '23 owing to heavy floods in the region.

Monza has held the official Italian Grand Prix every year of the World Championship, bar 1980, with both enjoying contracts that are set to end after the 2025 season.

With both deals set to come up for renewal in the near future, and nothing concrete apparently signed at the time of writing, Angelos Sticchi Damiani is keen to see both venues stay on the calendar - with Imola retaining its Emilia-Romagna moniker.

Talks ongoing

"We already have an agreement, it's a matter of details," Damiani explained to Gazettea della Sport.

"It is an agreement for both GPs in Italy, both Monza and Imola and to race there for an additional five years.

"To organise two Grands Prix a year in our country until 2030, would be an insane achievement for our country.

"We want to have signed a pre-contract before the end of 2024.

"For Imola, the situation is clearer because we are modernising the paddock, including the roofing of the garages and a new paddock club structure.

"Monza is different because the circuit is in a park and therefore, additional rules apply for changes to be made, and a discussion is needed with the municipality of Monza, and Milan [respectively], and the Lombardy region on how to tackle the changes."

Damiani also called for "certainty" until over the races with the election for the FIA presidency, and a new Concorde Agreement on the horizon, and an ever-increasing number of countries interested in hosting a race.