GP Emilia Romagna, round 7. Formula 1 arrives in Imola for a new world championship challenge
Formula 1 MSC Cruises Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna GP, preview. Just a weekend break, before diving into a new world championship challenge of this 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, with the highly anticipated GP Emilia Romagna, scheduled atEnzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola.
Appointment yes it should have taken place in 2023but because of the strong bad weather he flood that hit Emilia Romagna and also Imola, with lots of damage and victims, was cancelled.
After the catastrophe… we start again
And here we are ready, for one new edition of the Emilia Romagna GPwith the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari preparing to welcome Formula 1 back many fans who will arrive in Imola. A circuit that returned after many years of absence, in the 2020 calendar, when it was reorganized following the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, and then never left again… at least for the moment.
The fans, many led by many Ferrari fansare ready to color the grandstands and lawn areas of the circuit red, and support Scuderia Ferrari and the drivers, returning from a more positive start to the season, with a victory and many podiums. And who knows, maybe a good result might arrive on your home track, perhaps the most awaited one?
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The track is known by riders, teams and professionals, as among the most technical and spectacular on the calendar, due to its unique characteristics. In the past it was theater of legendary challenges and unforgettable among the great protagonists. Triumphs, defeats, diatribes and even tragedies, like that one weekend of 1994during which they lost their lives, Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna.
Like every year, there will be many reasons to follow the Emilia Romagna GP weekendBetween events which were organized both on and off the track city of Imola and surroundings. Furthermore, also due to the championship which up to this point has provided quite a few surprises and on the Santerno track, anything can happen.
Anticipation for the SF-24 Evo is growing
Imola represents the home race for the Scuderia Ferrarigiven that Maranello is just a few kilometers away and the facility was named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari.
The start of the season proved itself more positive compared to 2023, with one victory and many podiums under his belt. There SF-24 will present itself with a new look due to the updates, and this further increases expectations towards the Red. Within the team, the atmosphere is more serene and aware of the possibility of growth of the car. Now, with this update package, hopefully Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can have a car capable of achieving more than just a podium, and also being better in qualifying. And who knows if they can deliver an excellent result in front of the fans?
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But watch out for Red Bull! Great opponent and leader of the Championship, certainly favorite for the victory at Imola, especially with Max Verstappen. The RB20 is proving to be very fast and competitive, and it will certainly be there car to beat over the weekend. Sergio Perez? Good start to the season for him, so far he is behaving like a good standard bearer, but nothing special. Obviously, the two Ferrari drivers will have to be careful of him too.
We will also see the others, how they will behave in Imola. First of all the McLaren, fresh from the victory in Miami. The car of the British team, thanks to the updates, has shown quite a lot step forward in terms of performance. Package that has been mounted on the car Lando Norris, which gave him the first victory of his career. We’ll see if even with Oscar Piastri, the car will perform well, and especially in Imola. For sure, he will be another opponent not to be underestimated.
Then, theAston Martin by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. As well as the Mercedes, with a car that so far is not demonstrating excellent performance. On the contrary…. practically a nightmare that seems to never end For George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. But let’s see if they can do better in Imola.
The GP Emilia Romagna and Imola, represents the home matchalso for Visa App Cash RB (formerly AlphaTauri, former Toro Rosso, former Minardi), whose headquarters, Faenza, is a few kilometers from here.
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ENZO AND DINO FERRARI AUTODROME
The Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodromealso known as the Imola racetrack, is located in municipality of Imolaa renowned location in the province of Bologna.
In 2023, the Autodromo turned 70 years old. It was inaugurated in 1953was initially called the CONI Prototype, even though it was known as Santerno circuita nickname still in force. In 1970 took the name of Dino Ferrari racetrackin memory of the late son of Enzo Ferrari and then to Drake’s death in 1988the name Enzo.
Enzo Ferrarion January 23, 1965 he took part in an awards ceremony. Having been fascinated by the characteristics and potential of the track, he defined it as the most interesting circuit in Italy. In one of his 1980 books, describing the birth of the plant, he nicknamed it the small Nürburgringprecisely because of the characteristics of the hilly environment and the route.
In 1979 the circuit hosted Formula 1 for the first time with the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix, in 1980 it was the Italian GP took place. From 1981 to 2006 he hosted 26 editions of the San Marino GP. In 2020, after many years of absence, it re-embraces Formula 1 with the first edition of the Emilia Romagna GP. It is one of the few tracks where you run counterclockwise.
Since 2013 it has hosted the “Checco Costa” Museuminside which they are displayed documents, images and memorabilia which tell the history of the racetrack. In 2019 he hosted “Ayrton Magico, the soul beyond limits”, an exhibition that told the story of the Brazilian champion. Also this year (2024), on the occasion of 30th anniversary of May 1, 1994other exhibitions and events were organized at the racetrack and in Imola to remember Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.
The route built along the banks of the Santerno river is known for being very technical, difficult to interpret, with rather complex curves and braking. Riding it at a high pace requires a professional level profile. Since November 2006 in September 2007 the circuit and its structures were subjected to redevelopment and renovation workscurated by the German architect Hermann Tilke.
In the summer of 2009 the New Low Variant, which is located in front of the pit lane, above all to accommodate the International Motorcycle Federation. An intervention that has in fact removed the crease on the right which has always characterized the track for cars. In 2011, there were works to resurface the road surface.
DRS
It has been made official a single point where you can activate and exploit DRSon the Santerno route:
- On the main straight. The drivers will be able to exploit the speed of their single-seaters, and attempt any attacks, from the exit of the second corner of the Rivazza, up to the entrance of the Tamburello.
The detection cell will be positioned at Rivazza and precisely little before turn 16.
PIRELLI: C3, C4, C5
For the seventh round of the season, Pirelli opted for the softest compound in the rangethat is to say:
- C3 PZero White Hard;
- C4 PZero Yellow Medium;
- C5 PZero Red Soft.
The Emilia Romagna GP represents the home race also for Pirellisole supplier of tires in Formula 1. The Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodrome is one of the most historic on the calendar, whose track is known for being old fashioned, very technical and challengingand which exalts the talent of the pilots who have to deal with very complex combinations of turns and braking.
THE overtaking is very difficult, but also spectacular. The escape routesmost are covered with gravel make it even more complex and The driving style of the drivers is interesting: in the event of a mistake, it is almost easy to remain stuck among the stones, unable to start again.
The route it is not particularly severe in terms of forces exerted on tires and asphalt that has been laid for several years is relatively abrasive. Thanks to very intense use, over the weekend the road surface offers a good level of gripwhich increases as the cars go around the track.
The track tends to be smooth, and the Lateral and longitudinal forces are balanced.
It will be important prepare the strategy as best as possible. The softer compounds could offer more options in terms of pit stops in a race that historically has always been a a single pit stop for changing tires. The time lost in the pit lane is among the highest of the entire calendar.
Beware of the high possibility of having neutralizations: the Grands Prix in Imola have often seen the action of the Safety Car on the track. Factor to take into consideration this year too, as well as the Virtual Safety Car and other situations, which could scatter the cards on the table, including the weather forecast.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE?
As usual we took a look at the weather ahead of the Imola weekend. According to the latest weather report, on the day of Thursday 16 Maywhen the drivers and teams are expected to arrive at the circuit for the usual appointments with the press, Imola will have very cloudy or overcast skies with light rain, which could intensify with thunderstorms in the afternoon. The expected maximum temperature will be 23°C, the minimum 16°C.
Let’s see in detail the weather forecastfor the 2024 Emilia Romagna GP weekend.
Friday 17 May 2024
Temperatures: max 25°C, min 10°C; mostly clear and sunny or slightly cloudy skies for the entire day. No rain is forecast. Precipitation expected at 5%. Humidity at 30%. Wind, gusts between 21 and 26 km/h.
Saturday 18 May 2024
Rising temperatures: max 25°C, min 9°C; mostly clear and sunny or slightly cloudy skies for the entire day. No rain is forecast. Precipitation expected at 3%. Humidity at 32%. Wind, gusts around 15 km/h
Sunday 19 May 2024
Temperatures: max 23°C, min 13°C; mostly cloudy skies. Except for variability in central hours, no rain is expected. Rain expected at 20%. Humidity at 59%. Wind, gusts 10 to 18 km/h
