For a while now, we’ve known that Formula 1 magnate Bernie Ecclestone has been tossing around the idea of removing the Italian Grand Prix from it’s historical home at Monza, either by dropping the Italian Grand Prix entirely or by moving it to another track, due to Monza’s potential financial issues. It appears that Ecclestone has chosen to go with the latter option, because he has entered into an agreement with the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, better known to most people as Imola. Someone messing with tradition when it comes to Italian racing? If you think things are going to get messy, you’d better believe it.

Right now, there’s plenty on the table. Ecclestone and Imola have an agreement, however nothing can happen until the Automobile Club d’Italia, the country’s national automotive racing organization, gives final approval. That could be a problem, since the ACI’s president, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, is backing Monza. On the other side of the coin is Stefano Bonaccini, the President of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy (where Imola is), who has pledged to support the move. Imola officials are hinting that they have December of 2016 to make a decision, though they would prefer that move be made official well beforehand so they can get to the task of promoting the race.

Then there is an Option C: a shared race, similar to how the German Grand Prix have shared between the Hockenheimring and the Nurburgring. Imola has only hosted the Italian Grand Prix once before, in 1980 when Monza was in the middle of a massive upgrade. But would you count on that happening?

(Courtesy: Motorsport.com)