The Imola Grand Prix delivered plenty of drama and intrigue, highlighting shifting dynamics among Formula 1’s top teams as the championship heats up. Lewis Hamilton, racing in a Ferrari for the first time in front of the passionate Tifosi, described his performance at Imola as one of his best ever—despite finishing fourth. Meanwhile, Red Bull showed signs of resurgence with Max Verstappen’s win, and Ferrari’s weekend exposed both promising race pace and frustrating operational mishaps.
Hamilton’s Emotional Return in the Red Car
Lewis Hamilton’s Imola race was a standout, not just for his impressive recovery from a difficult qualifying session but also for the emotional significance of driving Ferrari in front of the Italian fans. After starting deep in the midfield (P11), Hamilton fought his way back to P4, overtaking key rivals and demonstrating a strong synergy with the Ferrari SF-23 during the race.
Hamilton praised the improvements made to the car, saying he finally felt “at one” with it—a feeling he had been chasing since the sprint race in China. He highlighted the strategy and pit stops as pivotal factors in his comeback, which contrasted sharply with Ferrari’s earlier qualifying woes. Despite the solid race pace, Hamilton acknowledged that qualifying remains Ferrari’s Achilles heel. If they can unlock better performance on a single lap, podiums could become a realistic goal.
What made the race extra special for Hamilton was the passionate support from the Tifosi, Ferrari’s diehard Italian fan base. For Hamilton, who has driven Ferrari’s iconic red car for only a few races so far, the atmosphere at Imola was something unforgettable.
Ferrari’s Qualifying Struggles and Operational Chaos
While Ferrari showed good race pace, their weekend was marred by an operational mess on race day. Confusing radio communications during the safety car period led to unclear strategy calls—most notably regarding tire changes.
During the late safety car, Charles Leclerc repeatedly asked whether a new set of soft tires was available. He was told that Hamilton didn’t want to pit, which turned out to be incorrect. This misinformation left Leclerc uncertain whether to pit or stay out. Ultimately, Leclerc stayed out to avoid losing time in the pit lane behind Hamilton, who did pit for fresh tires. This confusion compromised Ferrari’s strategic potential and highlighted ongoing issues with their race operations.
These kinds of errors, coupled with their continued qualifying struggles—where they qualified around P11 and P12—are holding Ferrari back. Despite this, their race pace on Friday and Sunday was competitive with front runners like McLaren and Red Bull. It suggests that with improved qualifying performance and better operational execution, Ferrari could be genuine podium contenders again.
Red Bull’s Return to the Front
Max Verstappen’s victory at Imola marked a critical milestone for Red Bull. It was the first time this season the team had the outright fastest car over the entire race distance, after a string of struggles in earlier rounds such as Miami.
Verstappen’s win also made Red Bull the team with the most race wins in the 21st century, surpassing Ferrari—a testament to the team’s dominance in recent years. The upgrades Red Bull brought to Imola clearly paid off, especially in terms of tire management and overall race pace. Verstappen said the car was easier to control, which allowed him to manage his tires better than his rivals and maintain consistent lap times.
Yuki Tsunoda’s comeback drive was also noteworthy. Despite crashing in qualifying, Tsunoda managed to recover solidly in the race, showing promise but also caution. His performance highlights the fine line Red Bull’s drivers face competing alongside a dominant teammate like Verstappen: the pressure to push hard versus the risk of costly mistakes.
McLaren’s Ongoing Challenge
McLaren’s weekend was a mixed bag. Although they showed pace in earlier races, at Imola they were outpaced by Red Bull, especially due to tire compound characteristics. The softest tire compounds used at Imola favored Red Bull’s car design, while McLaren’s advantage with rear brake ducts tends to be more effective on harder compounds—such as those expected at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.
McLaren’s drivers, particularly Lando Norris, pushed hard but could not match Verstappen’s speed. The team’s challenge remains to convert their car’s potential into race wins, especially when tire strategies and compound selections don’t favor their setup.
The Future of Imola and the F1 Calendar
Imola’s future on the Formula 1 calendar remains uncertain. Rumors suggest this might have been the last Imola Grand Prix for some time, possibly rotating off in favor of newer street circuits like Miami, which offer greater financial incentives to Formula 1.
However, there are whispers that Imola could return as a short-term replacement if other planned races—like the Madrid Grand Prix—face bureaucratic hurdles. For many fans and purists, losing Imola would mean losing one of the sport’s historic and passionate venues. While not as high-profile as Monza, Imola represents the heartland of Formula 1, with a loyal fanbase and authentic racing spirit.
