Ecclestone threatens Monza but Di Montezemolo wants two Italian Grand Prix

In May 2012, the Italian financial brigade raided the offices of the management company of the Monza circuit as part of an investigation into tax fraud, false invoices, and other malfeasance. Recently, the Prosecutor of the Republic of Monza revealed that tickets and passes intended for the organization had been fraudulently put up for sale on the Internet. Facing legal consequences, Enrico Ferrari was recently suspended from his position as director of the Autodromo di Monza, a role he had held since 1983, and was replaced by Fabrizio Turci, whose personality does not seem to be unanimously appreciated, even within the high authorities: “I am worried about the Italian Grand Prix,” expressed Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the president of the Automobile Club of Italy. “I don’t think Turci has the experience to lead the organization of this event.”

For his part, Bernie Ecclestone states in an interview given to the Gazetta dello Sport that in this context, the future of Monza in Formula 1 becomes much, much more complicated: “I don’t really understand what’s happening. I have a lot of respect for Enrico Ferrari with whom, for over twenty years, I’ve discussed the Italian Grand Prix contract. It’s thanks to him that Monza has been granted favorable economic treatment compared to all other European races. No race on the continent costs as little as the Italian Grand Prix. He’s a tough guy in business but straightforward, competent, and clean.” And the Briton warns Fabrizio Turci, Enrico Ferrari’s successor: “I don’t know him, and I don’t envy him! Without [Enrico] Ferrari, everything will be more complicated; he was a key man.”

Although he expressed doubts about Fabrizio Turci’s ability to manage the Grand Prix organization, Angelo Sticchi Damiani defends the Monza circuit with all his might: « Monza is untouchable: it must remain on the Formula 1 calendar. That’s non-negotiable, even if decisions have recently been made without keeping me informed. »

On the sidelines of the presentation of the Ferrari F138 last Friday, Luca di Montezemolo did not escape questions on the subject and commented on the situation: “I always hear that the Italian Grand Prix at Monza is in jeopardy, but I don’t believe it because it’s unthinkable not to have a race in Italy,” said the president of Ferrari. “In fact, I am convinced that our country should be further enhanced with a second date, by organizing the European Grand Prix here as has been done in Spain and Germany. Mugello could be a suitable circuit given that it always wins the award for the best circuit for MotoGP. And when we went to Monza and Imola, it didn’t seem to me that there were any problems! So, it would be better to have another Grand Prix in Italy rather than exporting Formula 1 to distant countries where interest is low and the stands remain half-empty.”