The organisers of the Italian Grand Prix have reached an “agreement” with the owners of Formula 1, Liberty Media, for the race to be held at Monza for another four years up until 2024, with only one year left on the current contract.
Heading into the 2019 season, the Italian GP, as well as the races in Britain, Mexico, Germany, and Spain had yet to agree a new deal, with various issues including lack of finances and a lack of government support threatening their continued place on the F1 calendar.
Raggiunta un'intesa di massima tra @ACI_Italia e @F1 sugli aspetti economici del contratto di collaborazione relativo al GP di #F1 a #Monza fino al 2024. Proseguiamo la negoziazione con @F1 per giungere, in tempi brevi, alla firma del contratto. #F1#Formula1#GPItaliapic.twitter.com/YVuctxDeEl
However, President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, announced on Tuesday via his Twitter feed that a deal had been agreed, but not officially signed.
One race which will likely not be retained is the Spanish GP, with Formula 1 seriously looking at the possibility of replacing it with a new Dutch GP in the same slot at the beginning of May, according to Motorsport.com.
Finances have been an issue for the Spanish GP at the Circuit de Catalunya for a few years, and with Fernando Alonso now having left the sport, they have predicted a decrease in interest from locals.
In contrast, the increased popularity of Max Verstappen has subsequently increased the desire for a GP return in the Netherlands, with Zandvoort the leading contender ahead of Assen for the location.
No official announcement has been made regarding the Dutch GP, however.