After racing in some of the most exciting and iconic venues across the Middle East and the Pacific, the F1 carnival heads to Imola to host the first race of the next triple-header.
For the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, here are our preview and predictions.
In terms of importance, the Emilia-Romagna GP sits right at the top of the list for most teams, with the results here dictating how the rest of the season pans out to a significant degree.
With this being the first European race of the season, teams have the opportunity to bring in their first major upgrades, which usually tend to change the trajectory of a season, as McLaren proved last year.
It is strongly believed that each team will bring some sort of upgrade to Imola and the subsequent races in Monaco and Spain. The likes of Mercedes and Ferrari will be looking to close the gap to the top two, while both McLaren and Red Bull will be looking to build a gap over the competition themselves.
Pole position prediction: Oscar Piastri / Max Verstappen
Race winners prediction: McLaren / Red Bull
At the start of the season, many experts backed either Max Verstappen or Lando Norris for the Drivers’ title. However, after the first six races, their tone on the championship—as well as McLaren’s intra-team rivalry—has changed dramatically.
The title picture is anything but simple, and there are bound to be more ups and downs. Also, it would foolish of anyone to count out Max Verstappen at this stage. In the last couple of races, Norris has been a bit error-prone, which in turn has cost him points. Verstappen, on the other hand, despite pushing the RB21 to its limit, still can’t match the McLaren drivers.
That said, one positive for Norris is that he’s looked more comfortable with his car in recent races. Imola is a track where pole position becomes crucial. Thus, the Brit will have to make his pace count this weekend—especially on Saturday.
In the final year of the current set of regulations, races are becoming more processional. Cars are producing more dirty air, which in turn is affecting the standard of close racing.
Most teams have upgraded their cars to such an extent that, barring any weather interruptions, the strategy for most races now is a one-stop plan on medium and hard tyres. Pirelli, tasked to address this issue, will bring in the softest tyre compounds available to make things more interesting for the fans.
In recent years, the Imola Grand Prix has become particularly processional, so changing the tyre compounds will definitely bring more strategy into play. Some may opt for the conservative one-stop race plan, while others will target specific pockets of free air on the track and go with a more aggressive two-stop strategy.
One thing’s for sure: there’s a lot to look forward to this weekend.
Dark Horses: Racing Bulls
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