The Monza circuit is “99.9 per cent” certain of remaining on the Formula One calendar after 2016 with a deal likely by the end of the year, the president of the northern Lombardy region said on Saturday.
Roberto Maroni said a meeting with the sport’s commercial rights owner Bernie Ecclestone, who has said local organisers cannot expect any cut-price deal, was cordial and positive.
“Monza is 99.9 per cent safe,” Maroni said. “We have told Ecclestone we want to close the deal by the end of this year. We now have three months to put the money together.”
Maroni said he would talk later to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is due to attend Sunday’s race at Monza.
The circuit, which has hosted races since the 1920s and featured on the calendar in every season but one since the world championship started in 1950, faces an uncertain future with its current contract ending next year.
Ecclestone has so far shown signs of playing hardball with local organisers, sounding pessimistic about the chances of renewing the contract.
However, Maroni said he had no doubt Ecclestone wanted to retain the race and that a deal would be reached to ensure the race’s future.
“I felt from Ecclestone a complete and total desire to keep the grand prix,” he said.
Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne said his team’s home race needed to be safeguarded.
“It’s certainly my expectation that rational human beings will find a rational answer to the problem,” he said.
“The definition of rationality includes an understanding of the importance of the circuit in the context of Formula One.”
“The fact that we didn’t run a German Grand Prix this year is nonsense. Both Germany and Italy are home turfs to, at least for now, two of the most successful teams in Formula One. And you can’t ignore home turf, you just can’t,” he added.
Germany was dropped this season from the schedule due to financial problems with the Nuerburgring, which alternates with Hockenheim. The race is set to return next year.
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