F1 2024: Italian GP - Imola (May 19)

[GuidoK]

F1 2024: Italian GP - Imola (May 19)

Schedule:
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2...iaRomagna.html

Circuit:
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)

Imola
When was the track built?

Imola – or the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari as it’s been known since 1988 – had its foundation stone laid in March 1950. It was ready for testing by October 1952, while racing began at the circuit in 1953.
When was its first Grand Prix?

Imola first hosted a non-championship F1 race in 1963, but it would take some politicking with Monza in 1980 before the track was awarded the honour of hosting the Italian Grand Prix for the first time that year. From 1981, the two tracks worked together in perfect harmony, with Imola taking on its famous ‘San Marino’ title, and going on to host a total of 27 Grands Prix up until 2006. It returned as venue for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.
What’s the circuit like?

A thrill ride. After testing his AlphaTauri AT01 at the track in the build-up to the 2020 season, Pierre Gasly called the experience one of the best he’d ever had in a Formula 1 car, while his then-team mate Daniil Kvyat remarked that “an F1 car through corners like Acque Minerali – the entrance is so fast, it’s so cool. It really gives you a lot of adrenaline.” The anti-clockwise circuit is certainly fast, with an old-school feel as the drivers put it on the line in iconic corners like the aforementioned Acque Minerali and Piratella.
Why go?

Like neighbouring Mugello, Imola is nestled in a fantastic part of the world, with the Tuscan hills to the south, the Adriatic beaches to the east and the gastronomic delights of cities like Bologna, Parma and Modena to the west – as well as the F1 mecca that is Ferrari’s HQ in nearby Maranello. There’s also no getting around the fact that a visit to Imola is an opportunity for F1 fans to pay their respects to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, who lost their lives at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Where is the best place to watch?

The stand on the outside of Acque Minerali is a great spot to see an F1 machine being pushed to its absolute limits, as the drivers struggle to get the cars down to speed for the tight right-hander before blasting back up the hill to the Variante Alta chicane.

Last year, the Emilia-Romagna GP at Imola was cancelled due to severe floods.

2022 race highlights:

2023 Thread:
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2017287

[GuidoK]

So what are your predictions?
Last GP's win by Lando Norris sure gave an interesting perspective on the gains other teams are making on RB.
But I think it'll be business as usual, and Max will dominate this GP again, with both McLaren and Ferrari batteling on who's the runner up. Ferrari is said to bring an extensive update kit.
My prediction:
1. VER
2. LEC
3. NOR
4. SAI
5. PER
6. PIA
7.HAM
8. ALO
9. RIC
10. RUS

[M5Rick]

1 VER
2 LEC
3 PER
4 NOR
5 SAI
Back to business as usual as long as there are no #Miamithings

[MoeTE87]

I have a feeling Max will come out and dominate even more. Win by 10+ secs.

Anyone else heard Red Bull planning to showcase massive upgrades to the car for this race?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

I have a feeling Max will come out and dominate even more. Win by 10+ secs.

Anyone else heard Red Bull planning to showcase massive upgrades to the car for this race?

Yes .The RB20 gets upgrades at Imola.

On the other hand ....Ferrari !

[MoeTE87]

Lol! Ferrari..I know it's their home race but the new upgrades wont matter.

I hate how they slapped on the blue HP logo. Why couldn't they just use white lettering and have the red of the livery come through?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yes .The RB20 gets upgrades at Imola.

On the other hand ....Ferrari !

Costa' a bomb as they'd be saying at Fiorano

[3798j]

"Ferrari Tests New Tire Guards for Wet Conditions - The tests involved solid guards with front holes and guards with spoke-like holes. Ferrari reserve drivers Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc participated. The aim is to minimize spray that hampers visibility, which has caused race delays, like the 2021 Belgian GP. Previous tests by Mercedes and McLaren at Silverstone showed limited success, but Ferrari's designs cover more of the wheels, potentially offering better results."

[HeelToeShift]

Will be interesting to see how Ferrari's "let's copy RB" design works are RB continues to upgrade their RB20.
I also expect Nor to fall back to his usual unimpressive pace. He had the perfect storm of events - RB not at peak peformance all weekend, further reduced by damage, and a fee 25 second pit stop that allowed him to win - also just heard that RB had the engines detuned quite a bit in Mia which caused a loss of 3.5 tenths. I still think he's at best an average driver and don't foresee him winning a straight battle with Max but even more so don't see him winning again for quite some time as he's gotten quite cocky this past week.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by 3798j

"Ferrari Tests New Tire Guards for Wet Conditions - The tests involved solid guards with front holes and guards with spoke-like holes. Ferrari reserve drivers Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc participated. The aim is to minimize spray that hampers visibility, which has caused race delays, like the 2021 Belgian GP. Previous tests by Mercedes and McLaren at Silverstone showed limited success, but Ferrari's designs cover more of the wheels, potentially offering better results."

Dear lord please no.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

Lol! Ferrari..I know it's their home race but the new upgrades wont matter.

I hate how they slapped on the blue HP logo. Why couldn't they just use white lettering and have the red of the livery come through?

It was apparently harking back to the old days in the sixties when some Ferrari's were coloured blue and yellow, and indeed the drivers wore those sky blue overalls.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by 3798j

"Ferrari Tests New Tire Guards for Wet Conditions - The tests involved solid guards with front holes and guards with spoke-like holes. Ferrari reserve drivers Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc participated. The aim is to minimize spray that hampers visibility, which has caused race delays, like the 2021 Belgian GP. Previous tests by Mercedes and McLaren at Silverstone showed limited success, but Ferrari's designs cover more of the wheels, potentially offering better results."

Ough..just no.

[CMW33]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

So what are your predictions?

Back to normal running order:

1. VER
2. SAI
3. PIA

Miami will prove to be a semi-aberration in that McLaren will not challenge for the win but the upgrades will put them a step ahead of Ferrari. Verstappen will cruise to easy victory. He may win by 5-10 seconds with everything turned down but with capability to win by 20-25 seconds.

In Class B, McLaren will take home more points than Ferrari, with Mercedes-AMG a step behind Alonso in Class C.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by CMW33

Back to normal running order:

1. VER
2. SAI
3. PIA

Miami will prove to be a semi-aberration in that McLaren will not challenge for the win but the upgrades will put them a step ahead of Ferrari. Verstappen will cruise to easy victory. He may win by 5-10 seconds with everything turned down but with capability to win by 20-25 seconds.

In Class B, McLaren will take home more points than Ferrari, with Mercedes-AMG a step behind Alonso in Class C.

I think you've got the Mclaren order right. Pia > Nor.

I think Ferrari is going to have their work cut out for them with Mclaren/Aston/MB.

[Rono63]

Originally Posted by 3798j

"Ferrari Tests New Tire Guards for Wet Conditions - The tests involved solid guards with front holes and guards with spoke-like holes. Ferrari reserve drivers Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc participated. The aim is to minimize spray that hampers visibility, which has caused race delays, like the 2021 Belgian GP. Previous tests by Mercedes and McLaren at Silverstone showed limited success, but Ferrari's designs cover more of the wheels, potentially offering better results."

No 2 second pit stops with that contraption.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by Rono63

No 2 second pit stops with that contraption.

That would be very Ferrari wouldn't it? Adding a wheel cover that took 2 mins to swap when everyone is out back on the track lapping them. LOL

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

That would be very Ferrari wouldn't it? Adding a wheel cover that took 2 mins to swap when everyone is out back on the track lapping them. LOL

#FerrariThings !

[3798j]

Ferrari SF-24 EVO (B spec)...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Ough..just no.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Can't help thinking that a lot of the Ferrari B car especially the front looks just like the RB20.

Just heard that LeClercs engineer Marcos has suddenly been replaced by a chap called Bozzi, no reason as yet has been given for the change.

[M5Rick]

Marcos: I am going?...have I not been a good race engineer?
Ferrari: We are checking,

Ferrari: We will come back to you...

[M5Rick]

Watch out Russell!
Some news in from the Brackley team that Russell and newbie Antonelli have been driving a W13 at Silverstone yesterday and Wolff is using George as a baseline to gauge Antonelli's performance.
I would say the West Londoner is under mounting pressure starting to be compared with the kid and that 'wheels folded in' incident with Alonso really F'd Wolff off.