Italian GP demise "fake news" but Monza boss hopes for "miracle" to stage safe race

Automobile Club d'Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani has rubbished as "fake news" the Italian Grand Prix's absence from a provisional Formula 1 calendar for this season.

Sticchi Damiani has confirmed Monza is currently gearing up for a behind-closed-doors event on September 6, albeit praying for "a miracle" the coronavirus pandemic, that has resulted in Italy being the worst-affected country in Europe, is under control.

With F1 still working on drawing up a calendar of 15 to 18 races, according to CEO Chase Carey, Sticchi Damiani said: "We do not understand why fake news came out about a cancellation of the Italian GP from the 2020 calendar."

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey: 'We are targeting season start in Austria in July'Read more

Speaking to Italy's Sky Sport 24, Sticchi Damiani added: "We are convinced that Monza will still be there, although almost certainly behind closed doors.

"We don't have a crystal ball to know what will happen in early September. We hope that the emergency is over, we are hoping for a miracle, but today we are gearing up for a closed-door GP."

Sticchi Damiani has also ruled out the possibility of Monza holding a race in reverse, as has been suggested could happen with some circuits.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc recent suggested it "would be very cool" to hold reverse-track grands prix.

Leclerc: Reverse layout races "would be very cool"Read more

"It's impossible from the point of view of the structure of the racetrack," confirmed Sticchi Damiani.

"Circuits have a sense of direction, with all the barriers, curbs and the structure of the track which is made to go one way.

"This is why we cannot think of carrying out demanding, expensive and useless work to create spaces and escape routes that currently work for one direction only."

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