Formula 1: News Tidbits from Italy

(GMM) There are now “too many street circuits” in Formula 1, Ferrari’s famous former president Luca di Montezemolo insists.

It is rumored the Liberty Media-run sport is poised to add a new urban venue to the calendar in Madrid, which would sit alongside similar street venues in Jeddah, Baku, Miami, Las Vegas and others.

“I’m passionate about everything about Formula 1, except that there are too many street circuits,” Montezemolo, 76, is quoted by Corriere dello Sport newspaper.

“In any case, I see F1 as interesting and unpredictable, despite this season being dominated by (Max) Verstappen. But when Ferrari won, they changed the rules every year to make everything more interesting.”

Well-known F1 journalist, Ferrari spokesman, dies

Alberto Antonini (Shown above), a familiar name in the Formula 1 paddock for many years, has died.

He is best known for being a highly respected journalist for the Italian magazine Autosprint and Sky Italia, but he also served for a time as Ferrari’s F1 spokesman during Maurizio Arrivabene’s reign as team boss.

La Repubblica newspaper said Antonini was 62, and leaves behind his wife Barbara.

Autosprint, meanwhile, reports that he died this week at a hospital in Bologna. Corriere della Sera newspaper believes his death followed an illness.

“An educated and decent man, a trained professional with great humility and humanity, which are uncommon qualities today where everyone feels like a phenomenon, but above all a dear friend. I loved him,” Arrivabene said.