--- title: "This Weekend’s F1 Race in Imola Is Canceled" date: "2023-05-17" modified: "2023-05-17" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-weekends-f1-race-in-imola-is-canceled" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # This Weekend’s F1 Race in Imola Is Canceled ![]() *\Getty\* The Emilia Romagna [Formula 1]() Grand Prix originally set to take place in [Imola]() this weekend is officially canceled due to major flooding in the area that's reportedly [left five dead]() and many more without a home. The decision was [announced]() Wednesday morning, though the FIA did not mention a future rescheduling or possible replacement for the sixth round of the F1 World Championship. The announcement [wasn't a complete]() surprise as the dire situation in Emilia Romagna has been going on for more than a week now. Thousands of emergency crews and first responders have been deployed to that region of Italy to help victims, and running an F1 race in the midst of this would've been less than ideal. Even Scuderia AlphaTauri has been caught up in this situation given the location of its headquarters within the affected region. Fortunately, it’s been announced that the team's HQ and employees are safe at this moment. Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, issued the following statement: “It is such a tragedy to see what has happened to Imola and Emilia Romagna, the town and region that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected. I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the incredible emergency services who are working tirelessly to help those who need help and alleviate the situation – they are heroes and the whole of Italy is proud of them. The decision that has been taken is the right one for everyone in the local communities and the F1 family as we need to ensure safety and not create extra burden for the authorities while they deal with this very awful situation.” FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem followed up by saying, “My thoughts and those of the entire FIA family are with those affected by the terrible situation in the Emilia Romagna region. The safety of everyone involved and recovery efforts are the top priority at this time.” Photos shared on Twitter show just how serious the situation truly is. While most F1 personnel had yet to arrive on the track, many support and logistic crews were already on site ready to begin preparations for this weekend's race. According to *[Sky Sports F1]()*, everyone's been called off now and asked to leave the area if at all possible. Those who hadn't departed their home bases were told to remain in place. https://twitter.com/TimCoronel/status/1658782110956630016?s=20 https://twitter.com/TomCoronel/status/1658758889750364162?s=20 It remains unclear if F1 will attempt to squeeze in a race at Imola or at another track within the existing 2023 schedule. It will likely announce a decision sooner rather than later. It's a shame that the race couldn't go on, but the decision made was the right one. This effectively makes the [Monaco Grand Prix]() the sixth race of the season, which is still expected to take place on Sunday, May 28. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()