After an unusual three-week break, Formula 1 travels to the Imola Grand Prix in Italy. An action-packed season opener in Bahrain offered Formula 1 fans a lot to unpack.
Lewis Hamilton fended off Max Verstappen to take over the checkered flag. Red Bull will try to remedy this at the Imola Grand Prix this weekend. In addition to the championship fight at the front, there are several areas to look forward to. Without further ado, let’s look at the top five storylines that lead up to the Imola Grand Prix.
1 – Mercedes versus Red Bull: who is ahead?
The battle for the Formula 1 World Championship will be intense this season. Mercedes won the first lap by narrowly ousting Max Verstappen in Bahrain.
Consistent problems with the car thwarted Red Bull all weekend. During qualifying, Verstappen suffered a damaged floor that took away a tenth per lap and in the race the Dutchman suffered a differential problem that cost him part of the time.
According to a consensus in the paddock, Red Bull should have the faster car at the Imola Grand Prix. However, with a three-week break between races, it would be foolish to assume that Mercedes hasn’t made any improvements. Was it possible for Mercedes to close the gap to Red Bull in these three weeks? Can Red Bull overcome mechanical and reliability problems on his car during the Imola Grand Prix weekend? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: it will be at the very top.
2 – Can the Imola Grand Prix deliver a weekend like Bahrain?
The Bahrain Grand Prix was everything a Formula 1 fan could ask for. The season opener had a close battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The midfield was also involved in a strategy game.
The race featured a lot of wheel-to-wheel action due to the nature of the track. Imola, on the other hand, is a circuit that is not known for exciting races. The track is not conducive to bike-to-bike action, as last season’s Imola Grand Prix demonstrated. The race had hardly any overtaking maneuvers and mostly the target positions are set after qualifying on Saturday.
There are a lot of unanswered questions about the Imola Grand Prix, but fans shouldn’t expect the tight bike-to-bike race we saw in Bahrain.
3 – Who will be the “best of the others” at the Imola Grand Prix?
McLaren was named “Best of the Rest” in Bahrain. The team had a decent pace in qualifying, but made a name for themselves especially in the race. McLaren finished in the points with both drivers, Norris in P4 and newcomer Ricciardo in P7.
However, the true pace of Pierre Gasly was not to be seen over the weekend. His AlphaTauri was faster than McLaren in qualifying, but suffered early damage in the race and brought the French out of midfield.
The Formula 1 midfield is extremely competitive this season. Five teams compete for the “best of the rest” and it often depends on whether the track suits a particular team. In Bahrain, McLaren and Ferrari had an advantage over the others, but that could easily change at the Imola Grand Prix.
Who is ahead at the Imola Grand Prix? Only time can tell.
4 – How will Sebastian Vettel perform this weekend?
Sebastian Vettel has made headlines since his disastrous Aston Martin debut. The four-time world champion has dominated the news cycle in recent weeks, with each Formula 1 expert providing two cents for the German’s situation.
Aston Martin’s star driver will be in the spotlight at the Imola Grand Prix. Vettel struggles with the car, but as a former champion, excuses can only get him so far. Vettel has to regain his form at the Imola Grand Prix. However, a similar performance to his race in Bahrain could lead to more experts coming for his head. This is especially true after Aston Martin signed Nico Hülkenberg for a spare roll.
5 – Ocon struggles to survive at the Imola Grand Prix
Esteban Ocon’s career is at stake. The Frenchman has to beat Fernando Alonso at the Imola Grand Prix. Since his return to Formula 1 last year, Ocon has not been able to beat his teammates. He fought Daniel Ricciardo last year and has continued to be slower than his Spanish teammate this year. To be recognized as the best in the sport, Ocon has to beat the best. With his seat now in jeopardy after rumors linked Pierre Gasly to Alpine, Ocon needs to make his presence felt.
In a way, Ocon’s job at the Imola Grand Prix is easy. He has to hit Fernando Alonso with hooks or crooks. If he’s unable to take on a serious challenge against the Spaniard, Esteban Ocon could get out of Formula 1 again, and this time maybe for good.
Published 12 Apr 2021, 8:14 PM IST
Sign in / Sign in to reply
The post 5 key storylines before the Imola Grand Prix first appeared on monter-une-startup.
