F1 2023: Italian GP - Imola (May 21) *cancelled*

[GuidoK]

F1 2023: Italian GP - Imola (May 21)

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

Circuit:
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2...a/Circuit.html

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.

2022 race highlights:

2022 thread:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1915304

Update - 17.05.2023:

[GuidoK]

For sure the pressure will be on LEC and SAI to perform for the local audience.

But my prediction is:
1. VER
2. PER
3. ALO

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

For sure the pressure will be on LEC and SAI to perform for the local audience.

But my prediction is:
1. VER
2. PER
3. ALO

It's difficult to predict anything else.

[M5Rick]

Ferrari hopefully can improve some here with the minimal upgrades they're getting being on a well driven home track by them and hopefully can tag the Merc car threat.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

It's difficult to predict anything else.

Yeah my friend . Let's race in Ferrari land !

[NYG]

Expecting Red Bull dominance here.

Max had a grand slam last year - I don't see how he won't do it again.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

Expecting Red Bull dominance here.

Max had a grand slam last year - I don't see how he won't do it again.

Sure my friend , and that's why... As you can see

[NYG]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Sure my friend , and that's why... As you can see

Was amazing to see him do this in person!!

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Sure my friend , and that's why... As you can see

There's only 1 Max Verstappen

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

Was amazing to see him do this in person!!

Yes ,and actually it was amazing to see him do this !

In a Dutch interview he said : It was requested many times by his fans from all over the world .
So I did it for my fans , but actually I don't care . I just want to win , that matters for me ..

What I think about it ?
Well , I really like it . Because from what he showed, it was well deserved to show his number 1.

#UnLeashTheLion

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

There's only 1 Max Verstappen

MAX & 'Las Vegas => https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qATwdnpf9KI

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by NYG

Was amazing to see him do this in person!!

Personally I'm over the moon Max did that, I remember Vettel doing it in his grand slam four years with the Red Bull team and who can forget Vet's backward drive after a B.Senna hit at Brazil 2012 to charge back to finish 6th seizing the title from Fernie by just 3 points.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX & 'Las Vegas => https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qATwdnpf9KI

Shall we my friend...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Shall we my friend...

They say : What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

They say : What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Don't know about that as I have never been there but it's quite a place with it's fancy buildings and architecture, that mini Eiffel Tower painted gold and of course it's in Nevada so very hot.

[M5Rick]

Back to Imola and there is a severe weather warning in place with landslides and flooding in that region with ''mass evacuations in progress'', 3 people have been killed already including a cyclist swept by a flash flood and another buried when his house collapsed.
Link
https://racingnews365.com/severe-flo...place-at-imola

[M5Rick]

There's a real risk of the GP being cancelled according to latest reports, hoping it doesn't come to that and awaiting further updates. Even if the track is fine it's the areas and roads leading to the track that are in question.

[M5Rick]

Ok, the race in ON according to the organisers but as I speak team personnel at the Enzo e Dino track have been EVACUATED, there is a river next to Imola.
Link
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/20525...d-weather.html

[GuidoK]

Lot of rain predicted during the weekend....

[Killed by Death]

[3798j]

New qualifying rules:

Q1 = whites
Q2 = yellows
Q3 = reds

"Moreover, the total number of dry weather tyres available to each driver is to be reduced from 13 sets for the weekend to 11."
"It means drivers will have access to three sets of Hard tyres, four Medium and four Softs for the three practice sessions, Qualifying and the race."


https://racingnews365.com/how-f1-qua...ging-for-imola

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Lot of rain predicted during the weekend....

That's just fine for the number 1

Like at Suzuka 2022