Meteorologist sends clear message to F1 bosses with Imola GP under major threat

Meteorologist and former F1 forecaster Michele Salmi has raised fears over the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix going ahead this weekend due to the catastrophic flooding in the area. F1 personnel have been told to stay away from the circuit for the second day in a row as discussions are taking place regarding the possibility of postponement.

After heavy rainfall led to the risk of floods and landslides, staff present at Imola on Tuesday were asked to leave as a precautionary measure. Now, as drivers and supporters prepare to descend on northern Italy, discussions are underway over the possibility of postponing the event until later in the season.

Relevant stakeholders will want the GP to go ahead if possible as it could be a logistical nightmare to rearrange amid a packed F1 schedule, though it may be necessary as Salmi expressed concerns. He specifically mentioned the Santerno river which runs next to the circuit and could be a major obstacle to overcome if a race was to go ahead.

Salmi tweeted: “The Santerno river runs next to the Pit Lane of the @‌autodromoimola and @‌ArpaER has a sensor right at the entrance of the Autodromo. The river has already reached the 2nd alert level (orange, max. is 3) and this flood already looks much worse compared to the one from two weeks ago.

“The problem is what is coming next. Models agree on 50-100 mm during the next 24h in the #Imola region, but with peaks > 100 mm in the Apennines, where the Santerno river comes from. A flood exceeding level 3 is in sight, with lower areas of the @‌autodromoimola at risk as well.”

High-level discussions are reportedly underway to determine whether the GP can go ahead, as Salmi’s warnings will likely be taken under consideration. While the weather is forecasted to improve ahead of Sunday’s race, local authorities could be criticised if emergency services are required at the event as opposed to elsewhere in the region.