Historic Monza is more important to formula one than Rome, the Italian capital’s mayor Gianni Alemanno has admitted.
Rome came close to joining the sport’s annual calendar until Bernie Ecclestone ruled that each country should host only a single formula one race per year.

That scuppered the chances of a street event in the EUR district, and Alemanno confirmed to Italian LA7 news that he only wanted to bring F1 to Rome if it could have complemented the historic Italian grand prix at Monza.

“We proposed to have a formula one grand prix in Rome when it was practicably possible to have two grands prix in Italy; one at Monza and another in Rome,” he said.

“Then Ecclestone told us there could only be one grand prix in Italy and we said that the history is more important, so it (F1) was more important to Monza,” added Alemanno.

He added that Rome does not “steal things around Italy”.

“We respect the country just as we want respect for the role of Rome,” said Alemanno.

Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno on Friday called off the Italian capital’s bid for a formula one race.
This week, the mayor said Rome was “taking a step back” with its plans for a street race in the EUR district, after Bernie Ecclestone said there was not room on the F1 calendar.

“Now I can formally and definitively renounce the project of the grand prix of Rome,” said Alemanno in a press conference, according to Italian press sources.

He said surveys had shown that the idea of a F1 race Rome was unpopular, adding that the historic city should instead focus on securing the 2020 Olympics.

Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno has announced the city is taking “a step back” with its plans for a formula one race on the streets of the EUR district.
Although formerly supportive of the plans, Bernie Ecclestone last week wrote to Alemanno warning that with Monza already on the calendar, F1 had no room for two Italian rounds per season.

That was interpreted as the start of negotiations to annually alternate Rome and Monza, but Alemanno has announced that Rome should now turn most of its focus towards bidding for the 2020 Olympics.

“The road has not been completely closed, but the interests of our city must be compatible with the national ones,” La Repubblica newspaper quotes him as saying.

Regarding F1, Rome will “take a step back”, Alemanno added, revealing that there “will be a press conference in the coming days”.

He called on the government to now make a “stronger commitment regarding the 2020 Olympics”, insisting that the event “as a target for Rome is not just ambitious but achievable”.

Alemanno suggested that talks about a cooperation between Rome and Monza regarding F1 did not bear fruit.

“We have always maintained contact with the mayor of Monza, with the ministers of the north and all those of the Lombardy region.

“I have to say that we never found a great dialogue, even when we stressed that if it was a choice between Monza and Rome then we would pull back,” he said.

The promoter of a grand prix on the streets of Rome in 2013 has not given up on bringing F1 to the Italian capital.
On Thursday, the event appeared to have heard its death knell when it emerged Bernie Ecclestone had written to Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno.

The Italian newspaper La Repubblica said Ecclestone’s letter explained that his sport needed to focus on expanding internationally and in the US rather than allowing single countries to host more than one race per year.

But Alemanno has clarified that the F1 chief executive’s letter was not a “rejection” for Rome.

“(Instead) there is the decision to grant Italy just one grand prix, either at Monza or Rome, or in both cities but in alternated seasons,” he is quoted in the Italian media.

The mayor added that Rome will announce a “finalised decision” next week.

The Rome race’s hopeful promoter Maurizio Flammini also took Ecclestone’s letter to be the start of negotiations with F1 officials and the organisers of the staunchly-opposed Monza event.

“Ecclestone has proposed alternating Rome and Monza,” Flammini said in a statement published by ANSA news agency.

“We will speak to the Automobile Club of Milan and to (Monza circuit owner) Sias to see if there is the possibility of collaboration,” he added.

Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno has pledged only conditional support to plans for a formula one street race in the Italian capital.
There is fierce opposition to promoter Maurizio Flammini’s plans for the race in the EUR district including from Ferrari, who insist that there is only room in F1 for one grand prix per country.

Mayor Alemanno has now declared that if that is true, then Monza and not Rome should represent Italy in F1.

“If it comes down to a choice between Monza or Rome, then we (the city) will step back because the Italian grand prix is at Monza,” he is quoted by Rai.

But Alemanno added that he does think there is “room” in F1 for two Italian races.

“A circuit race and a street race are different and we think the two will support one another,” he said.

When asked why many people – including EUR residents – oppose the Rome grand prix project, Alemanno said it is due to their “little knowledge” of the plans.

“I think it’s worth it because it will increase the tourist flow and the international attention of the whole of Italy,” he added.

It has emerged that Rome’s agreement about a city-based formula one race in 2012 or 2013 could lapse at the end of the year.

It was reported last month that organisers of the proposed event to take place in the Italian capital’s EUR district had signed a five-year contract with Bernie Ecclestone.

It was said that the only hurdle was the support of the residents of EUR, a major suburban area and business centre.

But Italian media reports late this week, including by the authoritative broadcaster Rai and the major news agency ANSA, have revealed that the document signed at Monza last month was just a “lettera di intenti” (letter of intent).

And Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is quoted as saying that the original project as devised by the race promoter has lapsed because it would have been too disruptive.

He said a new project will be presented to the Rome authority assemblea capitolina before the letter of intent runs out later this year.

“I will soon meet with Ecclestone to confirm the letter of intent that has been signed and never revoked,” added mayor Alemanno.

He said the original EUR plan was too disruptive. “If someone thinks I want to make a mess of the EUR, they are making a big mistake.

“Rather, we want to enrich the city’s image,” Alemanno is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Research shows that the majority of Rome residents, although not an overwhelming one, are in favour.

“But the assemblea capitolina will have the last word” after “very careful scrutiny”, he added.

Luca di Montezemolo has been challenged to pledge his support or otherwise to Italy’s historic grand prix venue Monza.

The challenge was thrown out by Monica Rizzi, the regional sports councillor for Lombardy, the governing region of the famous Autodromo Nazionale.

Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is confident the streets of the Italian capital will host F1 as early as 2012, insisting the event would not threaten Monza’s annual date.

But Rizzi does see Rome’s bid as a threat to Monza, urging Ferrari president Montezemolo to join those opposed to the extra Italian race.

“Monza is part of the history of our region, it is among the most popular on the formula one calendar and our pride since 1922.  Hands off,” she is quoted as having told Corriere dello Sport.

“I think it’s time for di Montezemolo to say whether Ferrari is for or against (a race in Rome).  As most Ferraris are sold in the north of Italy, I think it would be appropriate,” added Rizzi.

Rome is still on track to host a round of the world championship in 2012 or 2013, the Italian capital’s mayor revealed on Wednesday.

A possible street race in the famous city has been on the cards for some time, but it had been thought that political obstacles had thwarted the plans.

But mayor Gianni Alemanno told a morning television programme on Rai 1 television on Wednesday: “From 2012 or no later than 2013, a grand prix will take place in Rome.

“This will be the second race for Italy, because the race at Monza is guaranteed,” he added.

It is believed the city’s EUR district has been selected by Hermann Tilke as the site for the race, where the roads are wider than in the inner city.

Alemanno continued: “There are problems because we have to reach full agreement with the inhabitants of EUR. We have an agreement at the international level.

“There are no certainties, but our promise is very solid,” he added.