Italian GPs could come under threat

Any fatal accident in Italy requires investigation by the authorities and often leads to lengthy legal proceedings, resulting in the real risk of prosecution. There is currently no European Union legislation that exempts those involved in dangerous sports from such legal threats, despite lobbying from the motor racing's government body, the FIA.

All European grands prix are already at risk because of the EU ruling that tobacco advertising will be banned from July 31, 2005. The Imola race's position on the calendar has long been considered as fragile, and Bernie Ecclestone's recent statement that "It's possible that we then only have five or six races in central Europe" will do little to ease those fears.

Monza, however, has recently built a major new pit complex, and its heritage as the home of the Italian GP, coupled with Ferrari's standing in the sport, should ensure its place on the grand prix calendar. But the repercussions of any guilty verdict in such a high profile case as Senna's could cause the country to become a 'no-go zone' for Formula 1.