Will Red Bull rule the roost once more at Imola in 2023?
The start of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship has more or less been a continuation of the 2022 campaign.
Status quo has remained, with Red Bull dominating proceedings on the grid in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are the two men to catch in the driver’s standings this year.
Jumping to conclusions just two races into the season however is always dangerous, as for all the clear strengths that Red Bull possess, there is plenty of racing to come from some of the most notorious tracks on the circuit.
Whether it be the street race bonanzas in Monaco and Baku or the sheer tests of speed that come at Monza and Silverstone, being adaptable is key to a Formula 1 driver and few tracks provide the stern test that Imola does.
The Italian circuit (formerly known as the San Marino Grand Prix) was pulled from the global Formula 1 calendar back in 2006, much to the dismay of many F1 fans. However, it has made a successful return to the circuit following the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 and it is now referred to as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with its place on the calendar secured until 2025.
History of Formula 1 at Imola
Whilst very few countries on the global Formula 1 calendar are lucky enough to have two races staged within them each year, Italy is an exception.
Imola, is situated in Northern Italy, with iconic car brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Minardi all having originated from within a relatively short distance from the Imola circuit.
Such is the prestige in which that region of the world is held within the car making fraternity, that the track itself is called Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, named after the influential founder of the Ferrari brand.
The deep lying tradition of car manufacturing in the region saw Formula 1 make a move to add Imola to an ever expanding calendar back in 1981, with the race to be known as the San Marino Grand Prix – an attempt to avoid confusion with the Italian Grand Prix held in Monza, near Milan.
Few race tracks on the circuit can compete with Imola in terms of the strategy and speed that drivers need to implement to overcome the tricky chicanes, undulating terrain and hairpin bends that have proven to be challenging for some of the greatest drivers to have ever ventured behind the steering wheel.
A Grand Prix tinged with tragedy
The list of names who have enjoyed race wins at Imola is as prodigious as any race track globally, with the likes of Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost all having prevailed at Imola.
However, for one driver in particular, Imola will always hold an undeniable link with their Formula 1 legacy.
Brazilian Ayrton Senna was regarded by many as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time and his three championship wins in 1988, 1990 and 1991, with Senna also winning at Imola on three occasions too.
During the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash at Tamburello while leading the race, an accident that sent shock waves through the sport of Formula 1.
Senna’s tragic death came the day after Austrian Roland Ratzenberger was killed in qualifying at the San Marino Grand Prix, in what was one of the most tragic weekends in the history of Formula 1 racing.
Who will win the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?
The return of Formula 1 action to Imola in 2020 saw Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes prevail in a behind closed doors race, as Hamilton cruised to a 7th world title triumph but ever since then, the race at Imola has been all about Max Verstappen.
Drawing obvious parallels to the World Championship, Verstappen has reigned supreme in Emilia Romagna in both 2021 and 2022, as the Dutchman has gone on to lift the world title on both occasions.
Red Bull do look to be the team to beat once again in 2023, with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez in with great shots of winning the championship and should the two go head to head, it could be a fascinating campaign.
Ferrari haven’t had an Imola win to savour since Michael Schumacher’s 7th San Marino Grand Prix win back in 2004 but both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be keen to rectify that in 2023.
Mercedes will be looking to both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton to produce the goods at Imola this year, at a track that should suit both drivers, whilst the form of Fernando Alonso is certainly catching the eye at Aston Martin.
It promises to be another incredible weekend of F1 action.
Get your tickets to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix HERE!
Author: ChampionsTravel
2023-03-31
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