By Camille Lebez-Leroy
Imola GP: An Iconic Track Full of History and Tragedy
After an exciting Miami weekend, Formula 1 will travel to Imola, Italy, for the seventh round of the 2025 season. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated races of the year, this famous track is filled with drama and history.
Imola’s Legacy
Imola is much more than just a circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, it is an indispensable part of the sport’s legacy. The circuit, named Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, turns anti-clockwise, which is quite rare in F1. It is a mixture of fast straights, tight chicanes and daunting corners such as Acque Minerali.
The track first appeared on the calendar in 1980 as a replacement for Monza. Until 2006, it enjoyed a great deal of success but also tragedy, notably with the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Rolan Ratzenberg in 1994. After 14 years, it made its return to the calendar during the global pandemic in 2020, when it was renamed the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
What Makes Imola So Challenging?
Imola is the kind of track that is unforgiving. It’s a circuit that demands a great deal of precision and bravery from both driver and car.
Here are 3 important and well-known parts of the circuit:
Tamburello: Before Ayrton Senna’s death, it was a flat-out, high-speed kink. But it was later redesigned to include a tight chicane.
Acque Minerali: A steep, downhill section where the balance and the traction are two essential elements.
Variante Alta: A tricky, tight chicane that will punish any driver if they enter it with overambition.
Because of its layout, the circuit offers little scope for overtaking, which made Saturday’s qualifying session crucial.
What to Expect in Imola
McLaren’s dominance is complete, and with Oscar Piastri’s form, he will surely be the man to beat. But that’s not to mention the talent and race pace of his team-mate, Lando Norris.
Russell is still a threat, although his Mercedes is not as fast as the Papaya in a straight line. On the other hand, Max Verstappen is doing everything in his power to get his RedBull back up to speed and finally dominate the grid once again.
For the reds, this Grand Prix is like a “home race”. After a rather underwhelming weekend for the two Ferrari team-mates, they will be relying on the support of the Italian fans as well as on their car, which seems to be performing well in the low-speed corners.
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