'Tragedy': F1 forced to cancel Italian Grand Prix

This weekend's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix successful bluish Italy has been cancelled owed to deadly floods.

Formula 1 unit had earlier been told to enactment distant from the way aft floods affected ample parts of the Emilia-Romagna region. Some residents of the adjacent metropolis of Imola were warned to determination to higher floors of their homes. The Santerno River runs close adjacent to the track.

It is the 2nd contention connected the 2023 calendar to beryllium cancelled. The Chinese Grand Prix was scheduled for April but was cancelled successful December amid concerns astir pandemic-related restrictions.

"It is specified a calamity to spot what has happened to Imola and Emilia-Romagna, the municipality and portion that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected," F1 brag Stefano Domenicali said successful a connection connected Wednesday nighttime AEST.

"I privation to explicit my gratitude and admiration for the unthinkable exigency services who are moving tirelessly to assistance those who request assistance and alleviate the concern – they are heroes and the full of Italy is arrogant of them.

"The determination that has been taken is the close 1 for everyone successful the section communities and the F1 household arsenic we request to guarantee information and not make other load for the authorities portion they woody with this precise atrocious situation."

"My thoughts and those of the full FIA household are with those affected by the unspeakable concern successful the Emilia-Romagna region. The information of everyone progressive and betterment efforts are the apical precedence astatine this time," FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added.

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