"Top priority" for Formula E to return to Italy - Naples is also an option

Formula E is apparently pushing ahead with its return to Italy. This was made clear by co-founder and Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo in a media roundtable in which e-Formula.news also took part. He spoke unusually openly about the series' plans and the lessons learnt from the Italian chapter so far.

Following the end of the Rome E-Prix in 2023, Formula E attempted to make the move to the permanent Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli the following year. However, Formula E was not satisfied with the action on the track or the spectator interest, so Italy has since disappeared from the racing calendar. However, the organisers are working on changing this.

"Coming back to Italy has become a top priority for the championship since a couple of years now", Longo replied to a question from an Italian colleague. At the same time, he made it clear that Formula E's next attempt will have significantly higher demands in terms of location, atmosphere and visibility than in the past.

Of particular interest from an Italian perspective: Naples is also playing a role in the considerations. Longo confirmed that Formula E is talking to several cities in Italy, including the southern Italian metropolis.

Longo clearly criticises Misano

In the media round, Longo was very clear in his assessment of the Italy chapter so far. "Let me be totally open and frank here, in the same case that Jarama was a very positive surprise for us, for example, Misano was a very negative surprise. Because the performance of Misano just didn't showcase what we were capable of." Longo did not completely rule out a return to the track. "Probably for Gen4, it could be a good track," he explained. But something else is much more important for Formula E: "But I think we need to have that passion. We need to go to a place where the people will feel engaged from minute one."

This seems to be the core of the new Italy strategy. "The next time we come to Italy, and that will happen very soon, it has to be a mass exercise," said Longo. "And the same way we're feeling in Spain, the same way we're feeling everywhere we go now, we have to have that in Italy as well. And definitely, this is what we're looking for."

Formula E is not just looking for any venue, but a stage that matches its own sporting and atmospheric standards. "A very special venue, a very good location that allows to showcase the performance of these cars, but then on top of that also, to have the engagement of the people from Italy," Longo continued.

Naples is one of several cities under discussion

When asked specifically about Naples, Longo remained cautious. "In Italy we're talking to different cities, and Naples is one of them. We're talking to them," he confirmed. However, he did not want to be too specific. "We're talking to 106 cities in the world today. It's one of them that we're talking to." Nevertheless, the statement is remarkable because it shows that Formula E is no longer just making general plans for its return to Italy.

Longo also openly explained why the realisation is nevertheless difficult. "It's challenging if you want to be in an urban track close to the city or in the city, but without disrupting much to the neighbourhood," he explained. "But having enough length of track, enough width of track as well, finding that space for the garages, only that is a mega challenge."

This does not change the basic thrust. "As I mentioned, Italy is a top priority for Formula E," emphasised Longo. "And hopefully we will be back soon." With this, Longo once again made the direction of the series unmistakably clear: a return to Italy is high on the agenda for Formula E.