F1 returns to Imola’s historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari this weekend for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It will be the first F1 race at the circuit since 2022, after last season’s race was canceled due to flooding in the area a year ago.
Visa Cash App RB It is also the home event for the F1 team, with the circuit just 15 kilometers from the Faenza factory. That means a lot of familiar faces in the stands and high expectations for the team.
“This weekend marks the start of the European F1 season and the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola is just 15km from our base in Faenza, making it a special race for Visa Cash App RB.” said Alan Permane, the team’s Sporting manager. Director, media preview. “This is truly our home race and we are delighted to see many of our factory staff in the grandstand over the weekend.”
As for the circuit itself, Permane outlined the challenges drivers will face this weekend.
“This circuit features very fast changes of direction, lots of elevation changes, and difficult curbs to master. compromise is necessary,” Permane added. “Pirelli offers the softest products [tires] In the range one notch softer than what has been used here in the past. We will aim to maximize mileage for both drivers on Friday to optimize qualifying and race performance. ”
Daniel Ricciardo is looking forward to those challenges.
“The circuit is fun and challenging, very fast and quite narrow, with a very fast chicane and the qualifying laps around it are a lot of fun,” Ricciardo said. “The chicane has quite a few ups and downs and is a dangerous place where you can hit the curbs, so it will be a tricky race and qualifying will be important.
“Overtaking is possible, but more difficult on these kinds of old-school circuits. Being aggressive and trying to overtake can create a difficult environment, but this is something we all face and enjoy. It’s a challenge to try. All of us haven’t raced there in a few years, so it’s going to be good,” Ricciardo added. “I loved it when I first visited in 2020. It’s a really fun circuit to drive and it was a really good experience, so I’m looking forward to coming back.”
The return of the grid to Imola brings back memories for Yuki Tsunoda, who recalled flooding in the area a year ago. Mr. Tsunoda was one of many local residents who lent their support to the recovery efforts.
“The floods had a huge impact. There’s mud everywhere and there are people who lost everything. Houses with everything inside. People who lost everything.” Their belongings and memories. ,photograph. “It was really incredible how the whole Emilia-Romagna region and the whole region recovered in the immediate aftermath, how people worked together to clear the roads so that they could at least get around,” Tsunoda recalled.
“It was impressive to see people helping each other. Those who weren’t affected just walked around town with shovels and baskets and asked strangers if they could help.” the driver added. “My house was not damaged, but I couldn’t stand by and watch others help, so I grabbed a shovel and helped the badly damaged city. We went to the inner city center and started cleaning the streets.”
As for the race itself, Tsunoda loves both the technical elements of Imola and the chance to race in front of the entire organization.
“I really like the track itself. It’s very technical, with a lot of medium-high speed corners and high-speed chicanes, similar to Suzuka, but a little narrower. It’s always fun to drive and I have a lot of good memories,” said the driver. added. “I’m really looking forward to coming back and especially seeing the VCARB grandstand filled with people working hard at the factory to make sure I can drive fast cars. I can run in front of people who support me, so I hope the team can do well in front of them!”
The team is coming off a very productive week in Miami. In the F1 sprint race, Ricciardo and Tsunoda took the points with a difference of six points, with Tsunoda accumulating another six points for his team with a seventh place finish. Miami Grand Prix itself. VCARB head to Imola in sixth place in the constructors’ championship with 19 points for the year, 12 points behind seventh-placed Haas.
