The Emilia Romagna region is currently on high alert for severe weather conditions, with forecasts predicting strong winds and heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorms and electrical activity. As a result, the Imola circuit has seen significant amounts of water buildup in the broadcast and paddock areas, prompting local authorities to order the precautionary evacuation of F1 staff.
The #F1 staff is currently being evacuated from the track❗️
— Steffen Dietz (@sdietzf1) May 16, 2023
The Santero river right next to the circuit is already flooding at a higher level than during the enormous rainfall at the beginning of May. And it will keep on raining at least 24 hours from now.#ImolaGP #Imola 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/Y4t2b9Jhgr
Teams had already arrived at Imola to set up their garages, hospitality units, and pit walls ahead of the weekend's race, but preparations have now been put on hold due to the inclement weather conditions. With water levels rising from the nearby River Santerno, there are fears that the circuit could be flooded, causing further disruption to the event.
Former F1-Meteorologist Steffen Dietz claimed that the river has reached the highest possible flood alert level. The Department of Civil Protection in Emilia Romagna has confirmed a continuation of its red alert for weather heading into Tuesday, with forecasts predicting up to 100mm of rain to fall on Wednesday alone.
⚠️ The river Santerno next to @autodromoimola has reached the highest possible flood alert level now ⚠️
— Steffen Dietz (@sdietzf1) May 16, 2023
At the track 54 mm of rain have been recorded in the last 24 h. In the mountains to the south, where all the water is coming from, 100 to 140 mm have been measured so far. pic.twitter.com/QEy9OBfcWq
The continued bad weather raises doubts about whether the state of the race itself may be under threat. While F1 is no stranger to wet weather racing, heavy rain and flooding could pose a serious risk to drivers' safety and cause significant damage to the circuit.
The situation at Imola is reminiscent of previous incidents where wet weather has caused disruption to F1 events. In 2019, qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix was postponed until Sunday due to Typhoon Hagibis, while the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix at Nurburgring was hit by heavy rain and fog, causing several delays and safety car periods.
F1 teams and officials will be monitoring the situation closely in the coming days, with contingency plans likely to be put in place should the weather conditions worsen. The safety of drivers, teams, and spectators remains the top priority, and any decision regarding the race will be made with this in mind.
In conclusion, while F1 is no stranger to wet weather racing, the threat of flooding and heavy rain poses a significant risk to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. With local authorities ordering the evacuation of F1 staff and forecasts predicting continued bad weather, the event's future remains uncertain. F1 teams and officials will be monitoring the situation closely in the coming days, with safety remaining the top priority.
