The Formula One circus is heading back to Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari in Imola for the San Marino Grand Prix. One of Ferrari's home circuits, the team are never to be discounted, as they demonstrated in 2005: the return to Europe promises an interesting weekend, and if the racing is below par, at least the teams' new paddock establishments will provide plenty of talking points...
With the soft compounds available since the restoration of tyre changes, cornering speeds have increased, so the drivers can expect to have a tough weekend at the Imola circuit: its counter-clockwise layout exposes poor conditioning at the best of times. The circuit is narrow, and despite fast straights, it is tight through the corners and chicanes, which makes passing difficult.
Key to quick laps at the circuit are the ability to ride the high kerbs, so suspension settings need to be relatively soft, whilst a powerful engine for accelerating out of the corners allows more downforce to be carried, whilst reducing the impact of the gradients. Whilst not as critical on braking as Canada, braking from high speed is important, requiring effective cooling.