Agreement in principle for Monza until 2024
Long threatened, Monza seems to have obtained the extension of its contract until 2024.
During the winter, Monza’s name came up as one of the potential at-risk Grand Prix events, especially since its contract was set to expire at the end of the current season.
However, the temple of speed holds a special status, being the circuit that has hosted the most world championship events. Above all, it is the favored ground of Scuderia Ferrari and its thousands of tifosi. Despite the lack of success, it remains by far the most popular team on the grid.
The leaders of the Italian Automobile Club have announced that they have reached a preliminary agreement with Liberty Media for an extension until 2024, allowing them to position themselves for the long term and plan for significant investments. Thus, ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani commented on Radio 1 Sport on the broad agreement between ACI and Liberty Media regarding the Italian Grand Prix at Monza until 2024: « The financial agreement has been reached on the amount ACI will pay. Some aspects concerning the circuit’s areas and spaces still need to be defined, but we must now roll up our sleeves to carry out logistical work that will cost between 60 and 100 million euros. »
If Italy thus seems assured of retaining this event, that does not appear to be the case for Spain. We might witness the last Grand Prix in Barcelona in ten days, as in the midst of the crisis surrounding Catalonia’s independence movement and the change in government, there seems to be no longer a consensus to host F1.
Conversely, the Netherlands is about to announce that the Formula One Circus will set up on the North Sea dunes in Zandvoort, much to the delight of thousands of Max Verstappen fans. To avoid any conflict with Spa-Francorchamps, the Dutch race could be organized in the spring (instead of Barcelona) to leave space for the summer Belgian event.
On the other hand, Liberty Media’s plans to reach other non-European destinations do not seem to be coming to fruition yet, apart from Vietnam. Thus, the track initially planned for a potential Grand Prix in Miami is now completely scrapped. An alternative could take place at the Miami Dolphins’ football stadium, but local opposition still seems determined to block this project.
With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr
