Italian motorsport chief wants Monza full time on F1 calendar

The president of Italy's motor racing federation says he wants Monza to keep its annual place on the Formula 1 calendar, and not alternate with any other venue.

The comments of Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) chief Angelo Sticci Damiani (pictured above) follow Bernie Ecclestone's claim that former San Marino grand prix venue Imola could step in so that financially-troubled Monza only has to stage the race every other year.

"For us," Damiani is quoted by Speed Week, "there is only one place for the Italian GP, and that is Monza."

As for the alternating plan, he added: "I'm not fond of dancing at two weddings."

An interested observer of the situation is Ferrari, the most famous name on the F1 grid whose home race in Italy is an important event for the marque.

President Sergio Marchionne is quoted by Autosprint: "Let's leave Ecclestone to do his thing, and until then we will not intervene."

[alert type=blue ]Comment

Formula 1 and Monza are synonymous and any thoughts of dropping it off the calendar borders on sacrilege. That the bosses are even considering dropping it (as they have with Nurburgring/ Hockenheim) is further proof of how out of touch they are with reality.

Dropping legendary venues is tampering with the legacy and credibility of our sport - no wonder fans are increasingly repulsed by the shenanigans of those in charge of F1. What next? Silverstone dropped for Circuit of Wales? Spa replaced by Losail?

Imagine the French Open not being held at Roland Garros or, even worse, dropped and replaced by the Azerbaijan Open at Baku Tennis Arena or whatever![/alert]