The Italian Grand Prix is unlikely to move to Imola next year with a deal to extend Monza’s contract ‘close’, according to Automobile Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani.
The future of the event has been hanging in the balance amid a stalemate in talks between Monza and F1 to agree a new contract to host the race.
Monza is in the final year of its contract to hold the Italian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested over the weekend that Imola would step in to host the event if terms cannot be reached with Monza.
However, such a move has been quashed by the Automobile Club d’Italia having revealed that state funding earmarked for the race is legally ring-fenced to Monza.
The Italian ASN has also hinted that discussions with FOM to secure Monza’s immediate future are progressing despite having faced several roadblocks.
“In the Italian financial law it is written that the grand prix should be Monza, not Imola,” said Damiani at the FIA’s Sport Conference in Turin.
“The involvement of the Automobile Club of Italy, who is involved directly in the running of the grand prix starting next year, is for an Italian Grand Prix running in Monza, not in Imola.
“This is a new law, a financial law, that was approved at the beginning of the year.”
“In Monte Carlo we found many common points with Ecclestone.
“There are things that still have to be defined, but I dare say we are very close to an agreement despite some actions which have not helped the negotiations.”
Monza has hosted the Italian Grand Prix since 1950 with the race only deviating to Imola once in the time period.
Imola last played host to F1 for the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. The venue has since undergone a revamp bringing the facility up to FIA Grade 1 standard.
