Revitalized Road Racing: Ferrari Leads the Charge at Historic Imola
After a series of thrilling pan-continental flyaways, the Formula 1 circus returned to its European heartland, descending upon the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. This classic venue, which had been absent from the calendar for a lengthy spell, welcomed the teams back with a refreshing blast from the past – the scourge of vast and forgiving run-off had largely been eradicated, with the welcome sight of grass and gravel sprouting in the two-year hiatus.
As the European season commenced, the teams were eager to explore a host of upgrades, with the logistical hurdles much less reduced. The first “conventional” weekend format since the Japanese Grand Prix meant that these upgrades could be tested back-to-back in FP1, with their impact dissected for FP2.
The Home Heroes Shine
The story of the day was undoubtedly the home heroes, Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc enthralled the tifosi in attendance with a Friday practice clean sweep, topping both sessions. The Monegasque headlined a red flag-interrupted FP1 with a 1m16.990s, a tenth faster than Mercedes’ George Russell.
In the second session, Leclerc’s 1m15.906s placed him at the pinnacle of the ultimate order, as Ferrari appeared to get into a competitive cadence from the start of the road racing weekend. The team’s upgrades, aimed at “tilting the map” of the car’s performance, seemed to pay dividends on the slower-speed corners that characterize the Imola circuit.
McLaren Impresses, Red Bull Struggles
Meanwhile, Miami victors McLaren showed strong one-lap pace, with Lando Norris tracking over half-a-second faster than Leclerc’s benchmark before a mishap at Rivazza. The Briton’s long-run pace on the medium tyres also suggests that McLaren could factor ahead of Ferrari in the sessions that matter.
However, it was a tougher day for the reigning champions, Red Bull, as Max Verstappen struggled with an inconsistent balance throughout the sessions, spending more time in the gravel than out of it. The team’s upgrades, focused largely on the front wing and floor, failed to provide the desired results, leaving the Milton Keynes outfit “severely off the pace” and relying on its simulator drivers to find overnight set-up fixes.
“We’re severely off the pace. I don’t know what the issue is, but we need to find it quickly.” – Max Verstappen
As the teams prepare for Saturday’s crucial qualifying session, the stage is set for an enthralling battle between the resurgent Ferraris, the competitive McLarens, and the beleaguered Red Bulls. Imola’s road racing challenge has set the stage for a captivating clash of the titans in the European heartland of Formula 1.
🔗 Source
