Imola chiefs have opened legal action to dispute Monza's extension as home of the Italian Grand Prix through 2019, according to Autosport.
Bernie Ecclestone seemed to have put an end to months of uncertainty regarding the future of the event when it was confirmed last Friday that a new three-year deal was in place. However, the Formula One supremo did say “we're getting all the small details that are important in a contract together and we'll sign this”.
It has now emerged that these “small details” are Imola bosses having taken legal action to challenge the fact that only Monza could receive government funding, despite Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) president Angelo Sticchi Damiani confirming it to F1i earlier this year.
Ivan Capelli, who serves as president of the Automobile Club Milano, told Autosport the court will hear the case on October 26.
“The appeal court in Rome is going to judge if the steps the Automobile Club did until now, in telling the Autodromo of Monza that is the only title to receive the government money, is legal,” the former F1 driver said.
“Imola put an application saying it's not legal.
"Last year the [Italian Prime Minister] Matteo Renzi was [at Monza] and then we had an amendment in the law saying that the Automobile Club of Italy could use the tax that we pay, to use that money to pay the [hosting] fee through the ACI.
"And Imola says, 'no, if the Automobile Club is giving the money to Monza, it's unfair, because we are the same level, we are an automobile club as well, and we want the same money that they're giving to Monza’.”
2016 Italian Grand Prix - Quotes of the week
DRIVER RATINGS - 2016 Italian Grand Prix
RACE REPORT: Rosberg wins at Monza to cut Hamilton gap to two points
COMMENT: McLaren's 2017 driver line-up: A stroke of genius?
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Sebastian Montoya, the 19-year-old son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, is set…
When former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto took on the role of Chief Operating Officer…
Charles Leclerc concluded the 2024 F1 season with a sense of satisfaction, the Ferrari driver…
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has voiced his dismay at FIA president Mohammed Ben…
Super Aguri's application to join Formula 1 became a reality on this day in 2005,…
Ferrari roared back into contention in 2024 to deliver their strongest season in years, thanks…