Autodromo Imola has performed host to each triumph and tragedy since becoming a member of the Components 1 calendar in 1980. The Italian circuit has hosted the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix since 2020.
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Located 40km east of Bologna, within the Emilia-Romagna area of Italy, Imola first hosted a spherical of the Components 1 World Championship in 1980. The circuit staged the Italian Grand Prix as soon as earlier than securing an annual spot on the calendar as residence of the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006. After a fourteen yr absence, Imola returned to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.
Imola’s Origins
The origins of the Imola circuit might be traced again to the tip of the Second World Struggle. Following the conflict, in an try to spice up the native financial system, it was proposed {that a} new highway needs to be constructed linking the present public roads. The city of Imola is positioned in an space referred to as ‘Motor Valley’, the place many distinguished Italian automotive producers’ factories are primarily based. It was advised that the brand new highway might be used for the producers to check their new prototypes.
Building started in 1950, easing unemployment charges within the native space. In 1952, F1 World Champion Alberto Ascari grew to become the primary driver to finish a lap of the observe in a Ferrari. The Imola circuit opened as a semi-permanent venue in 1953.
Imola Joins the F1 calendar in 1980
With Monza present process renovations, Imola was referred to as upon to host the Italian Grand Prix in 1980. This, nonetheless, was not the primary time F1 equipment had powered across the observe. The very first F1 race at Imola truly befell in 1963. The non-championship Imola Grand Prix was received by Jim Clark, who lapped nearly all the discipline on his solution to victory. Three earlier “Imola Grands Prix” had been held within the Fifties, however these had been sports activities automotive races.
Sixteen years on from the non-championship F1 race held on the circuit in 1963, one other non-championship race befell in 1979. This occasion was referred to as the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix and was received by Niki Lauda.
READ MORE: 1979-80: A Legendary Grand Prix is Born at Autodromo Imola
Following the success of the 1980 Italian Grand Prix, Imola grew to become a everlasting fixture on the F1 calendar. The venue hosted the San Marino Grand Prix yearly between 1981 and 2006, which means that there have been two races in Italy every season. The quick paced, anti-clockwise circuit was a success with each drivers and followers. Legendary names similar to Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell dominated on the venue all through the Eighties and into the early Nineteen Nineties.
1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Components 1 endured considered one of its darkest weekends at Imola in 1994. Following a violent crash for Rubens Barrichello in Friday qualifying, wherein the Brazilian was fortunate to flee with out severe damage, Roland Ratzenberger misplaced his life following a equally extreme accident throughout Saturday’s qualifying session. The 33 yr previous Austrian was solely trying to qualify for the third time in F1 with the Simtek crew.
Within the Grand Prix, three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna died on account of a heavy crash on the Tamburello nook. There had been quite a few crashes at this nook beforehand, notably for Nelson Piquet in 1987 and Gerhard Berger in 1989. Senna’s demise introduced the media highlight onto the security of Components 1 and resulted in a variety of fast adjustments to the game. Senna could be the final driver to die on account of a crash in a Components 1 race till Jules Bianchi over twenty years later.
The Imola circuit itself was re-profiled following the tragic occasions of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend. Tamburello, as soon as a ferocious flat out bend, was remodeled right into a chicane. There have been additional adjustments to the Villeneuve and Tosa corners within the largest modification to the observe format because the venue opened.
The Latter Years of the San Marino Grand Prix
For some, Imola misplaced its spark following the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Observe adjustments made the circuit a shadow of its former self. Nonetheless, the occasion remained common, particularly amongst Ferrari followers.
The Tifosi thought-about Imola as Ferrari’s residence circuit when it was on the calendar, provided that it’s located inside 100km of the Scuderia’s Maranello manufacturing unit. Between 1999 and 2006, on the top of Ferrari’s domination of Components 1, Michael Schumacher delighted the Tifosi with six victories on the San Marino Grand Prix. In August 2006, it was introduced that Imola wouldn’t return to the F1 calendar in 2007.
Observe Renovations & F1’s Return
Following F1’s departure, the observe underwent main renovations. In a undertaking overseen by Hermann Tilke, the garages and paddock space had been demolished and new, extra fashionable amenities had been constructed of their place. The observe was additionally altered, with the ultimate chicane – Variante Basse – eliminated, making the run alongside the pit straight between Rivazza and Tamburello a lot quicker.
Components 1 lastly returned to Imola in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The circuit was added to the calendar as a alternative for different cancelled occasions. The Imola race was given a brand new title for its return – the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Initially meant to be a one-off return, the occasion was held once more in 2021 as a alternative for the Chinese language Grand Prix.
After signing a contract extension retaining the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on the F1 calendar till not less than 2025, the occasion befell as soon as extra in 2022. Internet hosting the fourth spherical of the season – and the primary race in 2022 to characteristic the Dash format – the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the primary F1 race at Imola with followers in attendance because the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. The weekend attendance was slightly below 130,000.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was on account of be the sixth spherical of the 2023 season till the Wednesday earlier than the race weekend, when the occasion was cancelled on account of heavy flooding within the space surrounding the Imola circuit. Following the devastating flooding, Components 1 returned to the observe for the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, internet hosting quite a few particular occasions over the weekend commemorating 30 years because the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend.
The 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which befell in Could, is extensively anticipated to have been the final F1 race at Imola. A brand new deal for the observe to stay on the calendar past 2025 is but to be introduced and seems unlikely to occur.
Autodromo Imola: Did You Know?
The 1980 Italian Grand Prix, which befell at Imola, is the one time in F1 World Championship historical past that the Italian Grand Prix has not been held at Monza.
Imola is considered one of few circuits to have hosted Grands Prix with totally different titles. In actual fact, it grew to become the primary to take action in 1981, when it hosted the primary San Marino Grand Prix. In 2020, the re-naming of the occasion to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix made Imola solely the second circuit, after the Nurburgring, to host Grand Prix occasions with three totally different titles.
The Imola circuit’s full title is Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. In 1970, it was re-named in honour of Enzo Ferrari’s son Dino. Enzo’s personal title was added to the title following his demise in 1988.
Michael Schumacher has probably the most victories at Imola, having received right here seven instances between 1994 and 2006.
Mercedes and Purple Bull are the one groups to have received at Imola because the circuit’s return to the calendar. Lewis Hamilton was victorious within the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, whereas Max Verstappen received all 4 races from 2021 to 2025.
READ MORE: Imola, Mio Amore: Remembering the 1993 San Marino Grand Prix
The Drivers’ Championship has by no means been determined at Imola, however two Constructors’ Championship titles have been. Williams sealed their first title victory on the circuit in 1980, whereas Mercedes had been topped champions for a record-breaking seventh consecutive yr in 2020.
Components 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was born within the city of Imola.
Yuji Ide misplaced his FIA superlicense on account of a crash with Christijan Albers within the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix.
The 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was F1’s first ever two-day weekend. Friday apply was scrapped for the occasion, with a single apply session happening on Saturday morning earlier than qualifying.
The 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was solely the third F1 race to be cancelled after personnel had arrived on the venue. The 1985 Belgian Grand Prix (which was later rescheduled) and the 2020 Australian Grand Prix are the one different instances this has occurred.
Memorable Moments at Imola
1982: Pironi and Villeneuve’s disagreement
Tensions rose at Ferrari throughout the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix. Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi went wheel-to-wheel behind the Renault of Rene Arnoux. With Arnoux later retiring, the Ferrari pairing’s combat grew to become the battle for victory. With a 1-2 end in sight, Ferrari instructed each of their drivers to decelerate. Whereas race chief Villeneuve interpreted this as an instruction to take care of place, Pironi didn’t. The Frenchman overtook his team-mate and went on to win the race. Villeneuve vowed to by no means converse to his team-mate once more. The Canadian died two weeks later in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Their fallout was unresolved.
1989: Berger’s fireball crash
Gerhard Berger suffered a spectacular crash on the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix. On the fourth lap of the race, Berger’s Ferrari left the observe on the Tamburello nook. Crashing at 180mph, on a full gasoline load, the Ferrari burst into flames. The race was red-flagged in consequence. Berger survived the affect and subsequent hearth, butfire however missed the subsequent race after whereas recovering from struggling damaged ribs and second-degree burns.
WATCH THE VIDEO: Velocity and Heartbreak: The Story of Imola In Components 1
2005: Schumacher vs Alonso
One of many defining moments in Fernando Alonso’s maiden title-winning season befell at Imola. The 2005 San Marino Grand Prix is remembered for an epic duel between Alonso and rival Michael Schumacher. Schumacher stalked the Renault driver all through the closing phases of the San Marino Grand Prix, however regardless of his finest efforts, Alonso saved his cool and secured the win. Watch the highlights.
2021: Russell and Bottas Collide
Mercedes’ protégé George Russell and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas got here to blows on the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. On the slippery observe, Russell tried to overhaul the Mercedes on the run to the Variante Villeneuve. Nevertheless, Russell dipped a wheel onto the grass and speared into the facet of his one-time teammate. Russell was unimpressed with the incident, claiming that Bottas moved into his path. The Williams driver later apologised to the Finn. Watch the incident.
Autodromo Imola In Numbers
Circuit NameAutodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)
Race first held1980
Observe Length4.909km
Race Distance309.051km (63 Laps)
Lap Record1:15.484, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2020
2025 Result1st Max Verstappen (Purple Bull) 1:31:33.199
2nd Lando Norris (McLaren) +6.109s
third Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +12.956s
