Imola has withdrawn its legal challenge against the Italian government’s financial backing of the deal to keep the Italian Grand Prix at Monza until at least 2019.
This development should now allow the deal agreed in September between Monza officials and Formula One management to be signed and the circuit’s future guaranteed after several months of uncertainty.
Imola decided to take legal action after the Automobile club d’Italia chose to award government backing to Monza to help secure the Italian Grand Prix beyond 2016 amidst their struggle for funds.
A court hearing to resolve the dispute was originally set for October 26 but we have now discovered this was cancelled, with Imola having withdrawn its challenge.
We now expect the deal between Formula One management and Monza to progress quickly and be announced before the calendar for the 2017 season is confirmed at the start of December.
A source close to the deal told Autosport.com: “Imola withdrew its objection against Monza and so the court case scheduled for October 26 did not go ahead.
“This leaves the way open for Monza to continue negotiations with Formula One Management to secure the future of Monza as a Formula 1 venue.
“We are confident that matters will be concluded before the 2017 calendar is confirmed in early December.”
