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.