Weather may play its part in Imola

If the local meteorologists are to be believed, the San Marino Grand Prix could throw up another bout of unsettled weather and prevent us from assessing the true state of play in Formula 1 once again. Michael Schumacher has yet to finish on the podium so far this season while we have had two maiden winners, Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella, in the last two races

Apr 17, 2003, 2:17 PM

A subtropical warm core will apparently provide stable and sunny conditions at Imola until later on Friday afternoon when increased cloudiness will be seen in the area. On Saturday, with final qualifying scheduled for 2pm, there is a 30% chance of rain or showers, increasing to 50% by the end of the qualifying hour.

On race day it will be overcast, with the chances of rain increasing as the day wears on. By the time of the race start, at 2pm, the chances of rain are currently 55%, rising to 60% an hour later.

It looks therefore, as if wet tyres could be called upon once again. Bridgestone has brought an identical tyre to its Interlagos wet to Italy, while Michelin has a slightly different compound but with a similar philosophy...