Monza boosts F1 hopes with Capelli exit

Amid intense and faltering negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, former F1 driver Ivan Capelli has resigned as a chief of Monza's circuit operator Sias.

Just last weekend in Bahrain, F1 supremo Ecclestone had admitted a new deal for the historic Italian grand prix beyond 2016 was being held up over local politics.

"I know it's very, very political," the 85-year-old said.

Ecclestone explained that who gets "the credit" for funding Monza's new deal was one stumbling block, but it is also known that he was clashing personally with some of the current Italian officials.

"It is a fact that as men we are talking," he said two weeks ago, "although I don't know why Federico Bendinelli went as he was a smart person and we understood each other."

So in reporting that Capelli has now gone, Italy's Autosprint confirmed that Ecclestone had "no confidence in the management" of Sias and fundamentally clashed over Monza's desire to reshape the track to suit MotoGP racing.

Another Italian media source, Tuttosport, agreed that Capelli's departure is "a move to end the stalemate in the negotiations with Ecclestone".