Not only that, but he insisted revealed that Maurizio Flammini – the man who is trying to organize the event – came to him and specifically asked for the Rome street circuit not to interfere with Monza's privileged status within Formula 1 racing.
“I've read several worried reactions, so I'd like to point out that the Italian GP stays at Monza, which remains a patrimony not just for our country, but for motor racing in the world. Maurizio Flammini has shown me his project last summer already, also because, without the approval of the national automobile club, the proposal can't reach the FIA,” said Gelpi in an interview for Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Such an event would make a big impact as a show, but it was Flammini himself stressing that a F1 GP in Rome must absolutely not interfere with the one in Monza. It's a completely different thing compared to Monza. And besides, it's a challenge: it would mean managing to organize something unimaginable,” added Gelpi.
However, the Italian official insisted that the Rome GP is only being discussed as a potential one-off stop of the Formula 1 series, and is still pending the approval of Bernie Ecclestone. Should the F1 supreme give Flammini Group the official go-ahead, the race would take place in the first part of the season, on the streets of the Italian capital.
“It hasn't been discussed yet, but obviously it would have to avoid interfering with Monza, which is held in September. A GP in Rome in the spring would be plausible,” concluded Gelpi.
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