Unprecedented rainfall in Emilia-Romagna has led to severe flooding in the region, including around the Imola circuit.
F1, the FIA and local organizers and authorities held crisis talks on Wednesday and decided to cancel this weekend’s race so all attention could be focused on providing emergency relief to local residents.
Questions quickly emerged over ticket holders’ eligibility for refunds following controversy at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, when fans were unable to claim a refund because an official “race” took place within three laps behind the safety car rain.
But the event’s organizers have moved quickly to allay any concerns, confirming that all ticket holders will be able to request a refund. Alternatively, they could convert their 2023 tickets to next year’s game.
“All buyers who purchase tickets through the sales network and the ticketone.it buying platform (have) the opportunity to convert the purchased tickets into tickets for the 2024 event or financial reimbursement,” the organizers posted on Imola’s website, along with the Ticket One is the official ticketing platform of the Italian Federation.
“In view of the ongoing emergency in the region, the manner and timing of the refund will be announced in a follow-up communication sent by email from ACI Sport, the company of the Automobile Club of Italy in the next few days.”
Since the event was canceled due to force majeure, the promoters of the Imola event did not need to pay FOM the agreed fee, which is understood to be about 20 million US dollars. This is not the case at the Spa in 2021, making it non-refundable.
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Promoter ACI only signed a new three-prong extension last year that will keep the event on the calendar until 2025.
According to its president Angelo Sticchi Damiani, their contract will now likely simply be moved up, with the 2023 version pushed back to 2026 due to the late season. Sometimes it seems impossible to find new dates.
“After the contract extension, 99% (certain games) will resume in 2026,” Sticchi Damiani told the news agency Lapland.
Carlos Sainz still has a year-and-a-half remaining on his Ferrari contract, but the Spaniard is curious to see what the Italian team plans to do with him after that. Sainz spoke about this in a conversation with Sky Sports. So while he previously said he wasn’t worried about all the rumors surrounding him personally, he wanted clarification soon.
Last week it was Charles Leclerc’s turn and next weekend it was Carlos Sainz’s. Soon, both Ferrari drivers will be competing in their home races. The race in his hometown of Monaco didn’t go his way for Leclerc, with Sainz clearly hoping to please his fans with the best results.
Not on the podium, it still feels good. With Lewis Hamilton in fourth, Mercedes will never rest on its dark past, but times have changed. Possibly they will change more in the next period, as in Barcelona, it may become clearer just how well the updates Monaco have introduced.