Monza hopes for 2017 contract by September

An official is hoping Monza finally ends its protracted negotiations over Monza’s F1 future by the Italian grand prix in September.

"We are very close to closing the agreement for the Italian grand prix. At Monza," said Italian automobile club Aci chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani.

That is despite that fact rival Italian circuit Imola has been pressing the Aci to make funding earmarked for Monza also available for the track near Bologna.

Sticchi Damiani, however, insists that Monza will win the day, revealing to La Repubblica newspaper: "We are in the last mile."

A deal would be timely, given F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s warning in Baku recently that if a deal is not done by September, Italy may be completely unrepresented on the sport’s 2017 calendar.

"The agreement will be concluded before the summer. And the signature will be done by September, perhaps during the days of the grand prix at Monza," Sticchi Damiani revealed. "That would be very nice."