Formula 1 makes its return to Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the iconic Imola circuit, commencing a demanding European triple-header.
The previous event in Miami was intense, with Oscar Piastri securing his third consecutive victory. This result expanded his lead in the championship standings over teammate Lando Norris, who finished second and is now 16 points behind the Australian driver.
Following a challenging Sprint weekend in Miami, Max Verstappen trails Piastri by 32 points. Red Bull, along with numerous other teams, is anticipated to bring performance upgrades to Imola, hoping to narrow the gap to McLaren.
Ferrari will be competing on their home soil. This race marks Lewis Hamilton`s first time racing in front of the passionate Tifosi in a Ferrari, placing increased scrutiny on the Scuderia`s performance. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli also races at his home circuit, building on his impressive Sprint pole position achieved in Miami. While George Russell earned a podium finish, Antonelli`s performance was particularly noteworthy, and his potential for continued progress will be closely observed.
It is also relevant to note that the future of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola beyond 2025 is currently uncertain, as the existing contract for the event concludes after this season.
The Imola Circuit: A Historic Challenge
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, widely known as Imola. This track is celebrated as one of F1`s most historic venues and presents a genuine challenge for drivers. Its “old-school” design includes unforgiving grass and gravel traps that punish errors, truly testing driver skill.
Imola rejoined the Formula 1 calendar in 2020 following a 14-year hiatus. The circuit uses a revised layout introduced upon its return, which is still utilized today.
Qualifying performance is exceptionally important at Imola due to the circuit`s tight and rapid layout. Overtaking opportunities are limited, primarily confined to the single DRS zone located on the lengthy main straight, making grid position critical for race success.
Imola GP Weather Forecast
The current weather forecast for the Imola region suggests predominantly dry and warm conditions throughout the race weekend, with temperatures expected to hover around 27°C each day. However, there is a potential for rain showers to impact the event on Sunday, coinciding with race day.
Emilia Romagna GP 2025 Schedule (UK Times)
Here is the detailed schedule for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend at Imola. All times listed are UK local times:
- Thursday, May 15
- 2:00pm – Drivers` Press Conference
- Friday, May 16
- 8:50am – F3 Practice
- 10:00am – F2 Practice
- 12:00pm – Emilia Romagna GP Practice One
- 2:00pm – F3 Qualifying
- 2:55pm – F2 Qualifying
- 3:40pm – Emilia Romagna GP Practice Two
- 5:15pm – The F1 Show
- Saturday, May 17
- 9:00am – F3 Sprint Race
- 11:15am – Emilia Romagna GP Practice Three
- 1:10pm – F2 Sprint Race
- 2:10pm – Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
- 3:00pm – EMILIA ROMAGNA GP QUALIFYING
- 5:00pm – Post-Qualifying Analysis
- Sunday, May 18
- 7:25am – F3 Feature Race
- 8:55am – F2 Feature Race
- 12:30pm – Grand Prix Sunday build-up
- 2:00pm – THE EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX (Race)
- 4:00pm – Chequered Flag: Race Reaction
- 5:00pm – Post-Race Analysis
