Italy’s Imola circuit gives a recent problem for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and younger pretender Max Verstappen because the pair put together for spherical two of their Formulation One battle this weekend.
The circuit, with the Santerno river operating alongside and a verdant backdrop of bushes and parkland, is a marked distinction to Bahrain’s desert Sakhir monitor that hosted the opener received by Mercedes‘ Hamilton.
The quick and flowing anti-clockwise format can be narrower and bumpier than Bahrain, and with fewer alternatives to overhaul which suggests monitor place and technique will play an even bigger half.
Pink Bull’s Verstappen has began the final two races — Abu Dhabi on the finish of final season after which Bahrain in March — on pole place and the 23-year-old shall be trying to full his hat-trick.
His automobile ought to be well-suited to the circuit traits, with the Honda engine additionally trying a match for Mercedes.
“I’m feeling actually relaxed going into this race weekend in Imola, I’m trying ahead to going again there,” mentioned Verstappen, who crashed out 12 laps from the tip final 12 months after a sudden rear tyre failure whereas in second place.
“We had a optimistic begin to the season so hopefully we will hold that up but it surely received’t be straightforward and we want every thing to work completely to beat our fundamental competitors.”
Hamilton, winner final 12 months at Imola after a two-day weekend with out Friday follow, held off Verstappen in opposition to the chances in Bahrain after the Dutchman had dominated the weekend however Mercedes know they’ve some catching as much as do.
“We might have received the primary spherical, however we’re below no illusions that this shall be an easy season,” mentioned crew boss Toto Wolff.
“The automobile continues to be missing tempo over a single lap and Pink Bull seem to have the sting proper now. We’re pushing laborious to shut the hole, and it is a problem we relish.”
Hamilton’s crew mate Valtteri Bottas, who took pole at Imola final 12 months when the race returned after a 14-year absence, additionally has one thing to show after ending third in Bahrain.
So too does Mexican Sergio Perez, lining up for his second race as a Pink Bull driver after going from final to fifth in Bahrain.
“I feel it’s going to be very tight with Mercedes and we’re going to see if the combat is circuit associated,” mentioned Perez.
“It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how we’re in Imola, on a really completely different monitor to Bahrain, and see how we examine in opposition to them.”
Imola can be a house race for Ferrari, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz racing in Italy for the primary time since he moved to Maranello from McLaren, and Pink Bull-owned Faenza-based AlphaTauri.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese who in Bahrain grew to become the 65th rookie to attain on his F1 debut, has examined at Imola and will once more be one to look at.
The race, whose full title of ‘Formulation One Grand Prix of Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna’ is unlikely to be favoured a lot by tv commentators, will once more be held behind closed doorways as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
The circuit, with the Santerno river operating alongside and a verdant backdrop of bushes and parkland, is a marked distinction to Bahrain’s desert Sakhir monitor that hosted the opener received by Mercedes‘ Hamilton.
The quick and flowing anti-clockwise format can be narrower and bumpier than Bahrain, and with fewer alternatives to overhaul which suggests monitor place and technique will play an even bigger half.
Pink Bull’s Verstappen has began the final two races — Abu Dhabi on the finish of final season after which Bahrain in March — on pole place and the 23-year-old shall be trying to full his hat-trick.
His automobile ought to be well-suited to the circuit traits, with the Honda engine additionally trying a match for Mercedes.
“I’m feeling actually relaxed going into this race weekend in Imola, I’m trying ahead to going again there,” mentioned Verstappen, who crashed out 12 laps from the tip final 12 months after a sudden rear tyre failure whereas in second place.
“We had a optimistic begin to the season so hopefully we will hold that up but it surely received’t be straightforward and we want every thing to work completely to beat our fundamental competitors.”
Hamilton, winner final 12 months at Imola after a two-day weekend with out Friday follow, held off Verstappen in opposition to the chances in Bahrain after the Dutchman had dominated the weekend however Mercedes know they’ve some catching as much as do.
“We might have received the primary spherical, however we’re below no illusions that this shall be an easy season,” mentioned crew boss Toto Wolff.
“The automobile continues to be missing tempo over a single lap and Pink Bull seem to have the sting proper now. We’re pushing laborious to shut the hole, and it is a problem we relish.”
Hamilton’s crew mate Valtteri Bottas, who took pole at Imola final 12 months when the race returned after a 14-year absence, additionally has one thing to show after ending third in Bahrain.
So too does Mexican Sergio Perez, lining up for his second race as a Pink Bull driver after going from final to fifth in Bahrain.
“I feel it’s going to be very tight with Mercedes and we’re going to see if the combat is circuit associated,” mentioned Perez.
“It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how we’re in Imola, on a really completely different monitor to Bahrain, and see how we examine in opposition to them.”
Imola can be a house race for Ferrari, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz racing in Italy for the primary time since he moved to Maranello from McLaren, and Pink Bull-owned Faenza-based AlphaTauri.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese who in Bahrain grew to become the 65th rookie to attain on his F1 debut, has examined at Imola and will once more be one to look at.
The race, whose full title of ‘Formulation One Grand Prix of Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna’ is unlikely to be favoured a lot by tv commentators, will once more be held behind closed doorways as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.