After the three flyaway races, Formula One made its traditional return to Europe and Imola.
The three-week break since Australia allowed the cars to be returned to their factories, and a chance for all the teams to do some testing. Thus, the San Marino paddock was full of revised cars with most teams arriving with at least some new parts.
The Imola circuit was revised this year with one of the chicanes being altered, but the character of the circuit remained the same. Imola is an unusual circuit, built on a hillside. The gradient changes are mixed with short straights punctuated with chicanes.
Although this suggests a stop-start nature, Imola is in fact quite a flowing track. Its hills and straights demand power, while the chicanes require good brakes and suspension that allows riding the kerbs.