Imola is a circuit that is etched into Formula One history and while this is the first time that the championship has returned to the Emilia Romagna region since 2006, there are memories both fond and haunting. Tune in to The Roar from 11 pm AEDT for live blog coverage of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix marks the third visit to Italy for the 2020 world championship, but also saw the trialling of a two-day format whereby only a single 90-minute practice session is held before qualifying.
An interesting challenge for all but Kimi Räikkönen, who is the only current driver to have raced in 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. 63 laps of the 4.9 km circuit combine high-speed corners such as Tamburello with slow, undulating complexes such as Acque Minerali.
Overtaking has been traditionally limited at this track and even with DRS available on the pit-straight, not much passing is expected.
With no form guide to base any predictions off for Imola, the safe money would have to be on championship leaders Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton, who now holds the all-time wins record in Formula One, will continue to edge towards that seventh world championship.
Valtteri Bottas will start the race from the pole, eclipsing his teammate Hamilton in qualifying by just under a tenth of a second. Lining up behind on the second row of the grid is Max Verstappen, who’ll be joined by Pierre Gasly in the AlphaTauri.
Both Hamilton and Bottas will start the race on the medium tyre once again, as will Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. As far as tyre wear is concerned, a standard one-stop race beckons with minimal wear on the Pirellis.
Gasly’s best qualifying of the season in his team’s home race will certainly give the Frenchman – who’ll stay at AlphaTauri in 2021 – the upper hand in battling midfield rivals such as Daniel Ricciardo and Leclerc.
The drums will be beating for Alexander Albon once again after qualifying sixth and behind the sister AlphaTauri team. Not being close enough to Verstappen has stopped Red Bull exploring strategic options to try and beat Mercedes.
Six points still separate the battle for third in the constructor’s championship, which has been intriguing to follow. The leaders of that trio in Racing Point will start outside the top ten on this occasion.
With another Mercedes masterclass on the cards, can it be Bottas to put his name ahead of Hamilton in Imola winner’s book? Tune in from 11 pm AEDT for live blog coverage of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Lights out: 11:10 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Italy
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
1. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 4. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 5. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), 6. Alexander Albon (Red Bull), 7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 8. Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri), 9. Lando Norris (McLaren), 10. Carlos Sainz (McLaren), 11. Sergio Perez (Racing Point), 12. Esteban Ocon (Renault), 13. George Russell (Williams), 14. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), 15. Lance Stroll (Racing Point), 16. Romain Grosjean (Haas), 17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 18. Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), 19. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 20. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
Micko
Roar Rookie
This is the second time RP have sabotaged Perez too when he was in prime position for a podium. Can't have him make daddy's boy look bad can we? :sick:
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Yeah, despite not confirming their intentions in terms of driver lineup, Williams have decided to stick with Russell and Latifi. Russell had a contract until 2021 anyway by my understanding. It'll be good for consistency (at a time of great change for the team) because it will be the first time since 2016 that the Williams driver lineup hasn't changed from the previous season.
Micko
Roar Rookie
So much for Williams then. :silly: Good for Russell though. :thumbup:
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
By the way, I have never believed in commentator’s curses. Unless the sportsperson is listening to the commentary or reading this blog, it does not exist. It was alright in the end anyway.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Perez has said that Red Bull is his only option for 2021.
Micko
Roar Rookie
He gets flustered too easy, but in hindsight those two lost podiums due to incidents with Hamilton have probably majorly dented his confidence. Max won his first RB race and Ric was second in his first RB race (before being demoted), but that didn’t bother him too much because he had already gained the confidence in himself. Gasly & Albon haven’t been able to get that high qualifying position and race position, so the more they struggle the more desperate they get.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Latifi's best finish this season has been P11, which he's taken on three occasions this season including this race. Russell meanwhile has only had P11 once, so Latifi is ahead on countback of that.
Micko
Roar Rookie
There's a lot of media momentum behind Yuki Tsunoda getting the other AT seat, implying that Albon is dropped all together, as Hulk or Perez seem to be the only realistic candidates to get the #2 RB seat now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
So that about wraps it up for this live blog of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Thank you again for tuning in for this memorable race at Imola. I'll be back on The Roar in a couple of weeks time for another old F1 favourite in the Turkish Grand Prix, with that epic Turn 8! Until then, thanks again and goodnight!
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
It is based on race results Micko. Can check specific details later on. :thumbup:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Is that just alphabetical order with Russell behind Latifi, or is that actually based on race results?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Let's take a moment too here to acknowledge the achievement of seven consecutive constructor's championships for Mercedes. Across different sets of regulations too and amongst competition that on occasions have been better than them too, but just can't execute as good as they can. When we look at great sporting dynasties and the great teams all over the world, then hopefully Mercedes will be remembered one day for their era of dominance in F1.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Albon’s demise was due to struggling with the set up of the car compared to Verstappen, who he couldn’t keep up with, never getting within three tenths of him in qualifying this season. He always started out of position.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Cruel either way. And I'm not even sure that AlphaTauri should be obliged to sign him as their second driver. Kvyat qualified P8.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Nice to see the shoey back on the podium and being shared around with the race winner and championship leader in Lewis Hamilton also.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 282 - Lewis Hamilton 197 - Valtteri Bottas 162 - Max Verstappen 95 -- Daniel Ricciardo 85 -- Charles Leclerc 82 -- Sergio Perez 69 -- Lando Norris 65 -- Carlos Sainz 64 -- Alexander Albon 63 -- Pierre Gasly 57 -- Lance Stroll 40 -- Esteban Ocon 26 -- Daniil Kvyat 18 -- Sebastian Vettel 10 -- Nico Hulkenberg 4 --- Kimi Ráikkönen 4 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 2 --- Romain Grosjean 1 --- Kevin Magnussen 0 --- Nicholas Latifi 0 --- George Russell
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 479 - Mercedes AMG 226 - Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 135 - Renault 134 - McLaren Renault 126 - Racing Point Mercedes 103 - Scuderia Ferrari 89 -- Scuderia AlphaTauri 8 --- Alfa Romeo Racing 3 --- Haas Ferrari 0 --- Williams Mercedes
Micko
Roar Rookie
Neither am I to be honest. I just think it's cruel to keep him out there with his current state of mind. Another failure from RB to handle a driver. On that note, Ricc & Kvyat in 3rd & 4th was good! Kvyat was due for a big points haul, just ironic he gets 4th when Gasly qualified in 4th and Kvyat was? can't remember.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT It was another record-breaking weekend for Formula One, returning to the legendary Imola circuit for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as Mercedes wrapped up their seventh consecutive constructor’s championship. Lewis Hamilton was the one to take the victory honours, after taking the lead from pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas – benefitting from a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 31 brought out by Esteban Ocon. Bottas led the early phase of the race, as Max Verstappen split the two Mercedes cars. The Dutchman pitted first in an effort to undercut the leaders, however Hamilton stayed out and continued to get performance out of his medium tyres. With the race looking like it was going to be sewn up by Hamilton, the battle for second was raging between Verstappen and Bottas – who’d been hampered by debris and damage to his car from the second lap. Lap 42 saw another mistake at Rivazza from the Finn, which allowed the Red Bull to pass at the end of the DRS zone during the next lap. However that was short lived for Verstappen, with his right-rear tyre letting go on Lap 51 and leading to another retirement. A Safety Car was deployed which turned the race on its head, for the minor podium placing – as Sergio Perez who’d inherited third after starting the race eleventh – ended up pitting and losing track position to Daniel Ricciardo. The Mexican on the soft tyres was able to make up some ground on the restart, but was unable to pass Charles Leclerc in fifth. While it was a second podium in three races for Ricciardo, ahead of Daniil Kvyat. Kvyat’s AlphaTauri teammate in Pierre Gasly didn’t make it far into the race, despite his fourth place starting position – with a power-unit problem derailing the Italian team’s chances with the Frenchman. Double points finishes went to both McLaren and Alfa Romeo, with Kimi Räikkönen running a long opening stint on the medium tyre to secure a place inside the top ten with ninth. Both teams were helped by Alex Albon’s self-inflicted spin after the Safety Car restart. Williams had an agonising day, missing out on potential points with both cars. Nicholas Latifi finished only seven-tenths off Antonio Giovinazzi in tenth, while George Russell crashed while behind the Safety Car.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Yeah, you are right there. I'm just not keen on dumping drivers before the end of the season.