On the one hand, the satisfaction of having two tracks (Imola and Monza) on the Formula 1 calendar until 2025, on the other the concern for the future of Antonio Giovinazzi, whose stay at Alfa Romeo Sauber appears rather complicated. Italy on four wheels is divided on the prospects for next season, with Angelo Sticchi Damiani – ACI president – who in recent weeks urged the government to create a sponsorship portfolio to help Giovinazzi stay in Formula 1. But in the meantime no news emerged and – as is well known – state incentives were directed towards the Imola project in F1: 12 by the national executive (7 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by ICE, the Institute for Foreign Trade, and 5 from the Ministry of Economy and Finance), 5 from the Emilia-Romagna Region, 2 million from CON.AMI of Imola and 1 million from ACI.
Back on the calendar in 2020, taking advantage of the new possibilities that emerged with the Covid-19 pandemic, the track named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari of Imola had also been reconfirmed for 2021, and the formalization is now one step away “for 2022 and for the following three seasons until 2025, the year in which the Monza contract will also expire“, Explained Andrea Cremonesi of the Gazzetta dello Sport in his editorial, pointing out: “What will happen next, if a relay is born, or only one of the two events will survive, it’s too early to tell“. The analysis then extended to Giovinazzi’s uncertain future: “There is a risk that despite having two appointments in our country, there will not be an Italian at the start: the latest commercial contract signed by Ferrari with Sauber no longer provides for the mortgage of a steering wheel“. To complicate the stay of the Apulian driver – in addition to the nominations of Oscar Piastri and Guanyu Zhou – there is the team’s negotiation with Michael Andretti: “If the deal goes through, Colton Herta could arrive in F1. A prospect that appeals to American F1 owners“, Underlined the Milanese daily.