Italian Grand Prix to be held at Monza until 2019
An agreement has been signed between Bernie Ecclestone and the directors of the Monza circuit to ensure that the Italian Grand Prix will continue to be held in Lombardy until 2019.
The Italian Grand Prix will continue to take place at the Monza circuit, in the suburbs of Milan, at least until 2019 following an agreement signed between the circuit’s leaders and Bernie Ecclestone.
Last August, a preliminary agreement was announced for the extension of the Grand Prix until 2019, but it was only today, after several months of intense negotiations, that the agreement was ratified. The total amount of the agreement is estimated to be around 70 million Euros.
The Imola circuit, eager to regain Formula 1, had indeed filed a lawsuit to contest the legitimacy of the financial aid granted by the Italian government to Monza to its detriment. This action was later abandoned.
The contract was signed on time before the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday, which will have to confirm the 2017 calendar.
It was through the circuit’s Twitter account that the announcement was first made: « The contract renewal for the [Italian Grand Prix] in Monza has been signed, »
Firmato il rinnovo del contratto per #ItalianGP a #Monza 👍@presidenteaci: «Impegni mantenuti. GP d’Italia resta a Monza per prossimi anni»
— Autodromo Naz. Monza (@Autodromo_Monza) 29 novembre 2016
Subsequently, it was the director of the Italian Federation of Mechanical Sports (ACI), Angelo Sticchi Damiani, who confirmed the news: « We have avoided the possibility that, after 70 years, Italy could lose the most prestigious, historical, and fascinating car race in the world. »
The Italian adds: “Now we are progressing together, with the aim of making the Monza Grand Prix an even more important event, which fascinates and will attract more and more fans from all over the world.”
