The FIA, F1 and race organizers have agreed to cancel this weekend’s races as extreme weather conditions in the Italian region killed at least two people and displaced many locals.

The decision came after discussions on Wednesday morning and was based on safety concerns for the game and the extra pressure it would place on emergency services.

Essential personnel were cleared to return to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit on Thursday to help pack bags and get the paddock in time for Monaco for the race weekend from May 26-28.

In response to the crisis, Ferrari, based in Maranello, an hour’s drive from the track, has donated 1 million euros to the Emilia-Romagna region’s Department of Homeland Security and Civil Protection.

According to a statement from Ferrari, the money will be used to help local residents, with a particular focus on environmental restoration and hydrogeological instability management projects.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said: “In difficult times, Ferrari has always stood with the community.

“We wanted to provide a concrete and immediate response to the most urgent needs of the inhabitants of the Emilia-Romagna region, already tested by the severe environmental catastrophe.

“Coordinated with the local authorities, for whom we sincerely thank you for their tireless efforts, this assistance will bring comfort and be a tangible sign of solidarity for the entire Ferrari family.”

Ferrari logo on Imola circuit building

Photography: Charles Coates / motorsport pictures

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is ​​considered unlikely to be rescheduled for later in the year due to the crowded schedule.

That means the 2023 schedule has been cut by two rounds following the widely expected cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April 16 but canceled due to the country’s ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vassell said of the race cancellation: “On behalf of everyone at Ferrari, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to all those affected by this terrible tragedy.

“Emilia-Romagna is our home and it is heartbreaking to see what people are going through right now.”