This weekend's Emilia Romagna&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;Grand Prix in Imola should be postponed because of deadly storms in northern Italy, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday. Salvini said in a statement it was "imperative to concentrate all efforts on coping with the emergency", including avoiding a traffic overload in the area, which has been battered by bad weather in recent days.

The Grand Prix, a home race for Ferrari, is scheduled to be the sixth round of the season and first of a triple header with Monaco and Spain following on successive weekends. Red Bull have won every race so far and double world champion Max Verstappen is 14 points clear of team mate Sergio Perez.

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The paddock remained closed on Wednesday, with&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;personnel asked to leave the circuit on Tuesday amid fears of flooding as water levels rose in the Santerno river that runs alongside the track. An update on the situation was expected later on Wednesday. Cars are not due to be on track until Friday but advance team and technical personnel had arrived to set up the garages and hospitality.

Italy's civil protection agency on Monday issued a red alert weather warning for the northern region.

This weekend's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix in Imola should be postponed because of deadly storms in northern Italy, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday.

This weekend's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix in Imola should be postponed because of deadly storms in northern Italy, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday. Salvini said in a statement it was "imperative to concentrate all efforts on coping with the emergency", including avoiding a traffic overload in the area, which has been battered by bad weather in recent days. The Grand Prix, a home race for Ferrari, is scheduled to be the sixth round of the season and first of a triple header with Monaco and Spain following on successive weekends. Red Bull have won every race so far and double world champion Max Verstappen is 14 points clear of team mate Sergio Perez. Also Read: Tennis: Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek to renew rivalry in Italian Open quarter-finals The paddock remained closed on Wednesday, with Formula One personnel asked to leave the circuit on Tuesday amid fears of flooding as water levels rose in the Santerno river that runs alongside the track. An update on the situation was expected later on Wednesday. Cars are not due to be on track until Friday but advance team and technical personnel had arrived to set up the garages and hospitality. Italy's civil protection agency on Monday issued a red alert weather warning for the northern region.

Formula One: Italian GP should be postponed due to deadly storms, says union transport minister

Italy's Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola, will remain part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2025.

This follows two successful Grands Prix in Imola during the pandemic and the inclusion of the race in the 2022 championship.

Imola first hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980 but subsequently became the San Marino Grand Prix venue from 1981-2006.

The circuit returned as a Formula 1 venue for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.

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Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: "I am delighted that we will be continuing our excellent partnership with Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix until 2025. The circuit is iconic and has been part of the history of our sport and they have done an incredible job of hosting two races during the pandemic. It is a proud moment for our Italian fans to host two races and for all our fans around the world to see this fantastic circuit on the calendar for the future."

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"I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen and the work of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in particular the President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the City of Imola. We are all looking forward to being back in Imola in April to thrill our fans," he added.

Italy's Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola, will remain part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2025. This follows two successful Grands Prix in Imola during the pandemic and the inclusion of the race in the 2022 championship.

Italy's Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola, will remain part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2025. This follows two successful Grands Prix in Imola during the pandemic and the inclusion of the race in the 2022 championship. Imola first hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980 but subsequently became the San Marino Grand Prix venue from 1981-2006. The circuit returned as a Formula 1 venue for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020. ALSO READ: Shane Warne brought spin as attacking commodity to cricketing world, says Indian offie R Ashwin Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: "I am delighted that we will be continuing our excellent partnership with Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix until 2025. The circuit is iconic and has been part of the history of our sport and they have done an incredible job of hosting two races during the pandemic. It is a proud moment for our Italian fans to host two races and for all our fans around the world to see this fantastic circuit on the calendar for the future." ALSO READ: FIH Pro League: Matches between India, Germany postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak in German camp "I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen and the work of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in particular the President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the City of Imola. We are all looking forward to being back in Imola in April to thrill our fans," he added.

Imola to remain part of Formula 1 calendar until 2025 after contract extension

Italy`s Imola circuit provides a fresh challenge for seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and young pretender Max Verstappen as the pair prepare for round two of their Formula One battle this weekend. 
 
The circuit, with the Santerno river running alongside and a verdant backdrop of trees and parkland, is a marked contrast to Bahrain`s desert Sakhir track that hosted the opener won by Mercedes` Hamilton. 
 
The fast and flowing anti-clockwise layout is also narrower and bumpier than Bahrain, and with fewer opportunities to overtake which means track position and strategy will play a bigger part. 
 
Red Bull`s Verstappen has started the last two races -- Abu Dhabi at the end of last season and then Bahrain in March -- on pole position and the 23-year-old will be looking to complete his hat-trick. 
 
His car should be well-suited to the circuit characteristics, with the Honda engine also looking a match for Mercedes. 
 
"I’m feeling really relaxed going into this race weekend in Imola, I’m looking forward to going back there," said Verstappen, who crashed out 12 laps from the end last year after a sudden rear tyre failure while in second place. 
 
"We had a positive start to the season so hopefully we can keep that up but it won’t be easy and we need everything to work perfectly to beat our main competition." 
 
Hamilton, winner last year at Imola after a two-day weekend without Friday practice, held off Verstappen against the odds in Bahrain after the Dutchman had dominated the weekend but Mercedes know they have some catching up to do. 
 
"We may have won the first round, but we`re under no illusions that this will be a straightforward season," said team boss Toto Wolff. 
 
"The car is still lacking pace over a single lap and Red Bull appear to have the edge right now. We`re pushing hard to close the gap, and this is a challenge we relish." 
 
Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas, who took pole at Imola last year when the race returned after a 14-year absence, also has something to prove after finishing third in Bahrain. 
 
So too does Mexican Sergio Perez, lining up for his second race as a Red Bull driver after going from last to fifth in Bahrain. 
 
"I think it’s going to be very tight with Mercedes and we’re going to see if the fight is circuit related," said Perez. 
 
"It will be interesting to see how we are in Imola, on a very different track to Bahrain, and see how we compare against them." 
 
Imola is also a home race for Ferrari, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz racing in Italy for the first time since he moved to Maranello from McLaren, and Red Bull-owned Faenza-based AlphaTauri. 
 
AlphaTauri`s Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese who in Bahrain became the 65th rookie to score on his F1 debut, has tested at Imola and could again be one to watch. 
 
The race, whose full title of `Formula One Grand Prix of Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna` is unlikely to be favoured much by television commentators, will again be held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy`s Imola circuit provides a fresh challenge for seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and young pretender Max Verstappen as the pair prepare for round two of their Formula One battle this weekend.

Italy`s Imola circuit provides a fresh challenge for seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and young pretender Max Verstappen as the pair prepare for round two of their Formula One battle this weekend. The circuit, with the Santerno river running alongside and a verdant backdrop of trees and parkland, is a marked contrast to Bahrain`s desert Sakhir track that hosted the opener won by Mercedes` Hamilton. The fast and flowing anti-clockwise layout is also narrower and bumpier than Bahrain, and with fewer opportunities to overtake which means track position and strategy will play a bigger part. Red Bull`s Verstappen has started the last two races -- Abu Dhabi at the end of last season and then Bahrain in March -- on pole position and the 23-year-old will be looking to complete his hat-trick. His car should be well-suited to the circuit characteristics, with the Honda engine also looking a match for Mercedes. "I’m feeling really relaxed going into this race weekend in Imola, I’m looking forward to going back there," said Verstappen, who crashed out 12 laps from the end last year after a sudden rear tyre failure while in second place. "We had a positive start to the season so hopefully we can keep that up but it won’t be easy and we need everything to work perfectly to beat our main competition." Hamilton, winner last year at Imola after a two-day weekend without Friday practice, held off Verstappen against the odds in Bahrain after the Dutchman had dominated the weekend but Mercedes know they have some catching up to do. "We may have won the first round, but we`re under no illusions that this will be a straightforward season," said team boss Toto Wolff. "The car is still lacking pace over a single lap and Red Bull appear to have the edge right now. We`re pushing hard to close the gap, and this is a challenge we relish." Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas, who took pole at Imola last year when the race returned after a 14-year absence, also has something to prove after finishing third in Bahrain. So too does Mexican Sergio Perez, lining up for his second race as a Red Bull driver after going from last to fifth in Bahrain. "I think it’s going to be very tight with Mercedes and we’re going to see if the fight is circuit related," said Perez. "It will be interesting to see how we are in Imola, on a very different track to Bahrain, and see how we compare against them." Imola is also a home race for Ferrari, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz racing in Italy for the first time since he moved to Maranello from McLaren, and Red Bull-owned Faenza-based AlphaTauri. AlphaTauri`s Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese who in Bahrain became the 65th rookie to score on his F1 debut, has tested at Imola and could again be one to watch. The race, whose full title of `Formula One Grand Prix of Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna` is unlikely to be favoured much by television commentators, will again be held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hamilton and Verstappen take their battle to Imola

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