New Monza deal delayed by Imola's legal action

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’.”

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