AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries has recounted how he was caught up in the extensive flooding in Emilia Romagna region that includes the team's headquarters in Faenza.
Nine people have been killed and several are missing with 14 rivers having broken their banks, flooding 23 towns and forcing the evacuation of about 10,000 people, some having to be airlifted from roof tops by helicopter.
It's led to the cancellation of this weekend's Grand Prix, with de Vries' account of his attempts to reach Faenza on Tuesday evening giving an insight into the scale of the problems in the area.
"It’s raining intense, Faenza is already flooded, and I am unable to get to my hotel," he posted on his Instagram page ono the night. “Returning to the highway is no option either.
"Stuck in a little village with one fully booked hotel," he continued. “Fortunately McLaren got stranded there earlier and their front jack Frazer was kind enough to give me his room.
© Nyck de Vries - Instagram.com
“Post-F1 announcement [about the cancellation of this week's race] I only saw one potential option to get home, which was driving via Firenze," he continued.
“After an adventurous drive through the mountains, thanks to the help from local people and authorities in different villages, I finally got home safely.
“My thoughts are with those who continue to be affected by this tragedy. I’ll be back soon in Faenza to meet my team and the people from the region.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is supporting a fundraising effort that has been set up to assist AlphaTauri team personnel and their families living and working at nearby Faenza.
“We are close to those who are suffering," the F1 supremo added. "We are starting a fundraising campaign for the region for the AlphaTauri team, which is based in [nearby] Faenza.
© Nyck de Vries - Instagram.com
“Some of the guys working for the team have lost everything," he pointed out. "In agreement with the authorities, we will lend a hand in a very complicated situation."
A team statement from AlphaTauri said that their factory "is currently unaffected and everything is being done to ensure the safety of our employees and their families".
It continued: "Our sympathies go out to all those affected and we continue to monitor the situation, to see what can be done to help those in need as we await further developments."
It's unclear whether it will be possible to reschedule the Emilia Romagna GP later in the year given the already tight schedule, or whether Imola will add an extra race in 2026 after the end of their existing contract to make up for it.
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