2020 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix - Imola Italy

[Nitrodaze]

We go into the iconic track of San Marino [also called Imola] on the back of a historic Portimao race. Where we saw Lewis Hamilton become the driver with the most wins in F1 history. On a Portimao race track that has hosted its first ever F1 race. And Kimi Raikonen became the driver with the most F1 race starts, which he celebrated with a legendary start from 16th on the start grid to 6th within the first lap and a quarter.



Imola is to be a two days race weekend with no free practises on Thursday and Friday. Teams are only allowed a short 90 minutes practise on Saturday morning between 10:00am and 11:30am. Then qualifying commenses in the afternoon at 14:00 after a very long pause of two and half hours.



This race was typically called "San Marino Grand Prix" and has hosted 27 F1 race weekends in the past. The last race held here was in 2006, where Micheal Schumacher took pole at 1:22:795 and won what was to be his last race there with Alonso 2nd and Montoya 3rd. This was a Schumacher track as he is the most successful driver to ever race this track with seven wins. Ferrari and Williams are jointly the most successful teams to win on this track with eight wins each. Both teams having also managing to win here on three consecutive years each. Williams from 1995 to 1997, and Ferrari from 2002 to 2004.



This is a fast flowing track with the two most troublesome apexes at each end of the track. It is therefore an engine grunt, old school track which would suit Mercedes perfectly. The shorter preparation this weekend should not be too punitive to the teams as a Monza setup is likely to work here. Kimi Raikonen is probably the only driver on the current grid to have raced an F1 car on this track.

Mercedes have an opportunity to wrapup the constructors championship at this race.

Some drivers come into this weekend with heightened uncertainty. Perez with an unfortunate double reprimand, comes into this race with one hand tied behind his back. As any infringement could be very costly to his campaign for 3rd in the driver's championship this season.

Albon and Russell also start this weekend under the cloud of potentially losing their seats next season as Perez's availablity puts pressure on these two vulnerable seats.

[Tazio]

Who is Emilia Romanga? Didn't he drive for Suderia Sant Ambroeus?

[Nitrodaze]

If you want evidence that the 1.6 litre hybrid engines is now quicker than the old loud 3.0 litre engines. the pole time of Bottas is good an evidence as ever. Bottas takes pole at 1:13:607 to Michael Schumacher's pole 14 years ago at the last race on this track in a Ferrari at 1:22:795. A good 9 seconds faster. Michael Schumacher's Ferrari would not qualify to race in sunday's race session.

[Nitrodaze]

Who is Emilia Romanga? Didn't he drive for Suderia Sant Ambroeus?

If you love your spaghetti Bolognese, it probably is named after Bologna which is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna in the north of Italy.

[Nitrodaze]

A great showing by Bottas. Great to see there is still some fire in his belly

[Tazio]

If you love your spaghetti Bolognese, it probably is named after Bologna which is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna in the north of Italy.

[denkimi]

Once again mercedes in a league of their own. The only question is when lewis will go past bottas and how much advantage they will have at the end.

If you want evidence that the 1.6 litre hybrid engines is now quicker that the old loud 3.0 litre engines. the pole time of Bottas is good an evidence as ever. Bottas takes pole at 1:13:607 to Michael Schumacher's pole 14 years ago at the last race on this track in a Ferrari at 1:22:795. A good 9 seconds faster. Michael Schumacher's Ferrari would not qualify to race in sunday's race session.

Besides torro rosso, in 2006 they used new 2.4 v8 engines that were said to have 200hp less than the 3.0.
They also used grooved tyres then.

[Bagwan]

If you want evidence that the 1.6 litre hybrid engines is now quicker that the old loud 3.0 litre engines. the pole time of Bottas is good an evidence as ever. Bottas takes pole at 1:13:607 to Michael Schumacher's pole 14 years ago at the last race on this track in a Ferrari at 1:22:795. A good 9 seconds faster. Michael Schumacher's Ferrari would not qualify to race in sunday's race session.

Brundle mentioned during the broadcast that the track had an extra chicane back in Michael's day , so comparison is kind of impossible because of that .

[The Black Knight]

Brundle mentioned during the broadcast that the track had an extra chicane back in Michael's day , so comparison is kind of impossible because of that .

Yes, there was a left right chicane leading onto the start finish straight after Rivazza. I was disappointed to see that removed because it could have potentially allowed for a little overtaking. I think tomorrow will be a boring race.

[zako85]

If you love your spaghetti Bolognese, it probably is named after Bologna which is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna in the north of Italy.

You got it backwards. People of that region became so proud of their Bologna pork sausages that they renamed their capital city after them.