Formula One drivers struggled to escape flooding in Italy after Grand Prix cancelled
The floods have killed 13 people and forced more than 10,000 to evacuate their homes. They also left two Formula One drivers struggling to get out after this week's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled.
Thursday 18 May 2023 20:08, UK
Formula One drivers have shared their stories of how they struggled to get out of deadly flooding in northern Italy after this week's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled.
Thirteen people have been killed and more than 10,000 evacuated from their homes because of the floods, which also forced the race to be called off on Wednesday.
The track is next to a swollen river and the F1 said it wanted to avoid further burdening emergency services.
The two drivers, Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda, both drive for AlphaTauri, which is based in Faenza, a flooded city close to the Imola track.
Rescuers used boats to transport people through the flooded streets of the city on Thursday.
Dutch driver de Vries said he was trying to reach the Faenza factory on Tuesday night ahead of marketing events scheduled for Wednesday but the roads were cut off.
"Faenza is already flooded and I am unable to get to my hotel. Returning to the highway is no option either. Stuck in a little village with one fully booked hotel," he posted on Instagram on Thursday.
He recounted his experience with pictures and video of roads blocked by landslips.
"Fortunately McLaren got stranded there earlier and their front jack (mechanic) Frazer was kind enough to give me his room. The following morning, the hotel lobby turned into an emergency shelter for people who were forced to escape their homes during the night."
De Vries said he eventually made his way home via the city of Florence after an "adventurous" drive on mountain roads.
He thanked local people who helped him on his journey.
'The town is heavily impacted'
His teammate Tsunoda, who began living in Faenza in 2021 to work with AlphaTauri, said the city was badly hit.
"After a horrible night the town is heavily impacted: dust, mud, and the smell of gasoline everywhere," the Japanese driver posted on social media on Wednesday.
"Currently people are struggling to find food and especially places to stay, after many have been evacuated from their own homes."
Appeals for donations
AlphaTauri said its factory had not been affected by the floods and "everything is being done to ensure the safety of our employees and their families".
The team and both its drivers appealed for donations to help people affected by the floods.
Ferrari, which backed the decision to cancel its home race, said it is donating €1m (£870,000) to flood relief efforts in the Emilia-Romagna region.
Teams and drivers support decision to cancel race
The decision to cancel the Emilia-Romagna GP was strongly supported by teams and drivers including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Max Verstappen, who leads the standings from his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
The next race will be the Monaco GP on 28 May and the Spanish GP a week later.
Death toll rises and billions worth of damage
Four more bodies were found in the region on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 13.
In the small town of Russi, two people - aged 73 and 71 - were found dead together in their home.
One of the dead was also swept away from her home and washed up on a beach some 12 miles (20km) away.
The floods have resulted in billions of euros' worth of damage in the agricultural region.
According to the Coldiretti agricultural association, more than 5,000 farms were left under water in the region, which includes a so-called "Fruit Valley", as well as corn and grain fields.
The region has also seen up to 300 landslides, 23 overflowing rivers, 42 flooded municipalities and 400 roads damaged or destroyed.