A number of storylines dominate the paddock because the Formulation 1 grid arrives at historic Imola for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
However one of many main storylines is the way forward for the race itself.
That is the ultimate 12 months the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is underneath contract with F1, and through Thursday’s media day a number of drivers made their pitch for the race to stay on the calendar.
Main the best way was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who declared it could “suck” to see Imola go away the schedule.
“Yeah, I imply, I get pleasure from coming right here. There are just a few tracks on the calendar which can be very historic and nice to drive,” mentioned Stroll in the course of the FIA Press Convention. “That is one in all them. It might suck to lose it. However now we have 25 races and lots of international locations need races. It’s robust to squeeze all of them in. Hopefully this one stays — I like coming right here.”
“Yeah, I imply it’s an important circuit. I’ve solely raced right here as soon as, however it’s positively in direction of the highest finish of my favorites. I believe having two races in the identical nation, with what number of bids now we have from world wide, perhaps doesn’t make that a lot sense anymore,” mentioned Drivers’ Championship chief Oscar Piastri. “And when you might have Monza as your second race in Italy … it’s fairly onerous to not go to Monza. I believe there’d be some riots if we didn’t!
“So for me, we simply have to be cautious to protect the historical past. Zandvoort goes, Spa goes to be on rotation, which I’m not the happiest about. We simply have to be cautious to not lose these historic tracks. OK, perhaps it’s not the most effective monitor to race on — not the most effective for overtaking — however when it comes to the final word expertise of driving an F1 automobile, that is on the high of the listing. We have to be conscious of that.”
Franco Colapinto — whose return to the grid is one other of the most important storylines this week — declared his “love” of the historic circuit.
“I like Imola. I like Italy. I’ve some nice recollections and nice historical past right here,” started Colapinto. “I began in Monza — that was my debut in Formulation 1 — and now it’s Imola. Nonetheless in Italy, however with Alpine. I like Imola. It’s an important monitor with large historical past in Formulation 1.
“I believe all of us like coming right here. The historical past this brings to the game, it’s an important monitor, and particularly to drive a Formulation 1 automobile right here. There are particular corners — it’s such an old-school monitor, it’s very pleasing to drive. So yeah, I’m going to attempt to get pleasure from this weekend and hopefully it stays,” added Colapinto.
Observe motion will get underway at Imola right this moment, with the primary two follow periods earlier than Saturday’s qualifying session for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Whether or not it’s the final Emilia Romagna Grand Prix stays to be seen, however the drivers actually hope the race stays on the calendar.
