Why F1 was right to cancel the Imola Grand Prix - but should it be on the calendar at all?
Excuse my referring to the cancelled event by a truncated title, but the full name - Formula 1 Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made in Italy E Dell'Emilia Romagna 2023 – convolutes the headline. From the title it is, though, abundantly clear the event enjoys enormous support from regional politicians, thus the promoters had no choice other to cancel the race once it became clear locals were hurting massively.
On Tuesday, the word was that the promoters would attempt everything to salvage the Grand Prix, including pumping out the paddock and shoring up the banks of the Fiume Santerno which flows alongside the circuit. The next day, realisation hit official suits that this 'carry on regardless' attitude suggests F1 cares not a damn about aiding locals whose houses and possessions were floating downstream, to say nothing of the fact that continuing with the Grand Prix would have diverted resources away from those most in need.
Indeed, there are reports of at least eight ...