Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has labelled the notion of Italy hosting another grand prix in Rome as "unthinkable".
Ferrari president says other Italian tracks are underused
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has labelled the notion of Italy hosting another grand prix in Rome as "unthinkable".
Di Montezemolo was reacting to the announcement that World Superbikes promoter Maurizio Flammini was planning to bring Formula One to the streets of the Italian capital in 2011.
Flammini recently met with F1 commercial rights controller Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the proposal.
The country already hosts the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and, according to di Montezemolo, the idea of adding an additional street race would be damaging for other tracks in the country.
"A new GP in Italy is absolutely unthinkable seeing as we already have so many circuits underused," he said.
"Italy is among the countries that has the greatest number of circuits: an extraordinary one in Mugello, a historical one in Monza and then Imola, Misano, Vallelunga."
However, di Montezemolo did say that the idea could be acceptable as a one-off race.
"If there is a spot, a one-time offering for Rome, but not a permanent circuit, then we can talk about it," he added.
Flammini nevertheless believes Rome could have a lot to offer a sport which has recently expanded its roster of street circuits.
"Together we reflected on how much street circuit grands prix represent an interesting opportunity for the growth of F1, as it happened last year with Valencia and Singapore," he told
Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Being a Roman myself, I feel Rome can give a lot to and get a lot from F1.
"Our hypothesis is to be ready for 2011, but we wouldn't mind for it to occur earlier than that.
"The Flammini Group can give absolute guarantees quality-wise, but we are yet to find the approval from the Mayor and from the presidents of the region and of the province."
Boost
Meanwhile, the long-term future of the French Grand Prix has received a boost after the country's Senate fast-tracked plans to build a new circuit on the outskirts of Paris.
Proposals for the Yvelines F1 Automobile Valley development were tabled by senators from the ruling UMP party and added to an economic stimulus bill.
The bill allows local authorities in Yvelines to bypass standard planning procedures and get construction underway at the earliest possible date.
Those behind the project now hope France can return to the F1 calendar as early as 2011.
The 2009 French Grand Prix at Magny Cours was cancelled in October after the country's motorsport federation (FFSA) cited unsustainable loses at last year's event.
