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Imola Grand Prix preview: Can Ferrari get the job done?

Roar Rookie
22nd April, 2022
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22nd April, 2022
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Formula One is back to Europe this weekend with the Imola Grand Prix being the fourth race of the season. Italy is set to host two races this season with the Monza Grand Prix scheduled for the 11th September.

Ferrari have emerged as the sole dominant force from the first three races despite one of their drivers, Carlos Sainz Jr., still struggling to get to grips with his race car.

Nobody will be happier than Ferrari fans and crew members while heading to Imola this weekend. It has been years since a dominant Ferrari race car has started an Italian race and hence become the favourite.

Charles Leclerc has driven majestically through the first three Grand Prix of the season as he currently leads the Driver’s Championship. On the contrary, Sainz Jr. had a disappointing Australian Grand Prix. He lost several positions at the start of the race and had to retire the car eventually due to some mechanical issues. Sainz looks to be less comfortable than Leclerc in this season’s Ferrari as he is yet to understand the whole package and is possibly looking for a car set-up that blends into his driving style.

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Despite Leclerc going through an unfortunate robbery this week in Italy as he lost his high-end watch, the leading Ferrari driver will undoubtedly be aiming for the win. The aim for Charles will be to consolidate his Championship leading position by not only winning the race but ensuring that he gets the crucial point allocated to the fastest lap during the race which can prove pivotal towards the closing stages of the season.

These are indeed jolly times for the entire Ferrari family as they confidently await the start of proceedings at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

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Charles Leclerc celebrates winning the Australian Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc celebrates winning the Australian Grand Prix. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Reliability has been the key learning aspect of Red Bull Racing’s first three races. Max Verstappen, being as blunt as he usually is, has claimed that it is “pretty frustrating and unacceptable to retire from a race when you aim to win the Championship”.

Verstappen’s team principal, Christian Horner, has backed his statement and accepted that Red Bull have to fix the recurrent issues of their race car. Horner eventually went on to look at the brighter side of things as he claims that Red Bull only have to improve their reliability as they already have a fast car that can compete with the pace-setters, Ferrari.

It has been a tough start of the season for Max. He has been struggling with the RB 18 while his teammate Sergio Perez performed reasonably well through the opening races of the season as he leads Max by five points in the Championship standings.

With less free practice time through this weekend due to the newly introduced sprint session, Red Bull will be hopeful that their issues have been fixed for good. Another race retirement could prove disastrous for Max’s Championship hopes.

The Australian Grand Prix has proved to be a breath of fresh air for the eight-time World Championship-winning team, Mercedes AMG F1. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished the Australian Grand Prix third and fourth respectively, hence gaining some crucial points for the team and affirming that they are still the third fastest car on track behind Ferrari and Red Bull.

Throughout the years, the incredible Mercedes team have been known for their ingenuity and swiftness in constantly evolving their race car by introducing new parts throughout the season that have a direct impact on their race performance.

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Given that they gradually fix the disturbing vibrations of their race car that makes their drivers’ life quite tough, and achieve some podium finishes in the next couple of races, Mercedes might still prove to be a serious title contender for the Constructors’ Championship, if not the Drivers’.

Mercedes’ top-level personnel are still with the team and they are undoubtedly working on a turnaround plan so that they provide George and Lewis with a reliable and fast car.

The party will be massive if Ferrari win on home ground but the Bulls will be looking to spoil the party.

Let’s have another great weekend of racing in Imola.

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