Could Imola again provide intra-team F1 fireworks?
As F1 returns to Imola, BEN EDWARDS recalls how this delightful but unforgiving circuit has been a hotspot for discord and tragedy
With the jet lag from Australia now firmly worn off, Formula 1 teams are busy preparing for the first sprint race of the year on the classic layout of Imola. After missing out on the dramas of Formula 1 for 14 years, Emilia-Romagna’s rolling yet precise and unforgiving circuit will provide its third grand prix in 18 months and, as it reminded us last year, it can be the host of discord between well-connected competitors.
Team-mates often attempt to combine forces in the early part of a season, especially when new technical rules shift the sand and working together creates more opportunity for the team to move forward. But Imola regularly turns up on the calendar at a key phase when the initial results are showing who’s strong, and drivers realise that beating a team-mate could be the answer to winning the title.
Why there's much more to come from Red Bull in F1 2022
OPINION: Max Verstappen has won two of the opening four races of the 2022 Formula 1 season and failed to finish the others. But even on the races where he's claimed maximum points, Red Bull has still yet to execute a weekend perfectly, which should be an ominous sign for Ferrari in their brewing title battle
The long-awaited 2022 comeback that presents a good omen for F1
The first Australian Grand Prix since 2019 was a watershed moment in Formula 1 history. It was here, on 13 March 2020, that F1 vanished into uncertain limbo. MARK GALLAGHER visited the 2022 edition to witness how Melbourne’s triumphant return parallels F1’s own rebound…
Why Hamilton's 2022 struggles shouldn't define his career
OPINION: Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a long reign at the top of Formula 1, but this year's Mercedes troubles are not new to him, having suffered a similar predicament at the start of a new rules cycle in 2009. There are key differences to consider this time, but his difficult start shouldn't be blown out of proportion
Why the Miami GP is a central chapter of F1 2022's biggest storyline
OPINION: Formula 1’s most-anticipated new event for a decade is finally happening with the first Miami Grand Prix. But when predicting which of Ferrari or Red Bull might prevail in the latest title fight battle, assessing the changes made since a similar race at the start of 2022 provides the key clues
The small details where Hamilton can make the difference for Mercedes
Finishing a lapped 13th in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a bitter pill for Lewis Hamilton to swallow and encapsulated Mercedes' current Formula 1 struggles. But as a recent paddock insider explains, despite being saddled with an ineffective car, the seven-time world champion can have great unseen influence in its recovery
How Imola exposed the success and failure of F1's 2022 rules
Four rounds into Formula 1’s new era has provided a timely juncture to assess whether the new rules have achieved the intended target of closer racing. While there have been some wins and losses, overall it remains on the right track
Why Imola's step back in time is refreshing for F1's future
OPINION: Although Imola hardly yielded a classic Formula 1 race in the 2022 edition of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the atmosphere that enveloped the round underlined the value of hosting F1 races at classic venues, a scarcity in the championship's recent visits to less historic environs
What Russell's current Mercedes form ahead of Hamilton means for his F1 future
OPINION: It would not have taken much for Mercedes to have had a very different weekend at Imola, even if a podium was always out of reach. As it was, George Russell led the line for the Silver Arrows, far ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Here’s how he got there and why such troubled times may benefit both team and younger driver in the years to come
Krack: “Smiling faces” at Aston Martin F1 team for first time in 2022
Live: F1 Emilia Romagna GP commentary and updates – FP2 & Sprint
