Monza Could Host Last Italian Grand Prix This Year After Negotiations Fail, Report Claims

F1 "is close to losing another historic European venue," according to BILD. Angelo Sticchi Damiani, president of race promoter CSAI, told Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, "There is no more wiggle room for negotiations." The sticking point between the racetrack in Monza and F1 "is as usual money." F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly asking for a hosting fee of €25M ($28M). It is a figure that organizers "do not want to pay or cannot pay." This year's Italian Grand Prix, which is scheduled for Sept. 4, is secured, but Monza's future in '17 "is completely up in the air." The racetrack in Imola, which previously hosted the San Marino Grand Prix until '06, "could replace Monza on the F1 calendar" (BILD, 3/23). The SID reported Monza "has hosted the Italian Grand Prix since '50 with only one exception when Imola hosted the race in '80." From '81-06 Imola "played host to the San Marino Grand Prix" (SID, 3/22).