The Imola event is undoubtedly special for Ferrari, who compete a few kilometers away from the Maranello headquarters. This year, the Emilia Romagna GP is even more important for the Prancing Horse. In line with extensive reports over recent weeks, Ferrari will debut their first important update package of 2024.
VASSEUR: “AN INTENSE WEEKEND AWAITS US”
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained why Ferrari chose the Imola weekend to debut the new features on the SF-24:
“We’re going back to having the classic format, with three free practice sessions. That’s why we decided to bring the first SF-24 upgrade package here. We, therefore, have a very intense weekend ahead of us. Since we will have to carefully evaluate all the new features, and at the same time, we will be called to work for qualifying and the race .”
Speaking to Sky Sport, the French manager then underlined how the Emilia Romagna GP, the event that opens the European F1 season, represents a sort of second start to the championship:
“It’s always like a new start to the season when you arrive in Europe. Imola is a track we know, and we will see how we manage to behave .”
Vasseur then explained the reason for his foray into McLaren’s celebration of Lando Norris’ victory in Miami, a scene that generated some controversy among fans:
“We celebrated Lando because he also did it with us in Melbourne.”
In Australia, we remember, the Briton got on the podium in the company of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc who finished in the top two positions.
IMOLA, A SPECIAL APPOINTMENT
As mentioned, the event scheduled on the circuit named in memory of Enzo and Dino Ferrari can only have a special meaning for the Maranello team. Vasseur added:
“After the cancellation of last season, we are happy to be able to compete again in Imola in front of our fans, who I am sure will crowd the racetrack: we are confident that we can be protagonists on the track, that we will be there up front fighting and we hope to give them some reason to rejoice. We will try to have all the components ready, and it will be a special moment. It will be for the whole team .”
THE IMOLA CIRCUIT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE POWER UNIT
The track of the racetrack dedicated to Enzo and Dino Ferrari has only one DRS area at the pit straight. Nicola Mosconi, responsible for power unit operations on the track, describes the circuit from the engine’s point of view as follows:
“Imola is a circuit with medium sensitivity to energy. It is located more or less halfway between Monte Carlo and Spa-Francorchamps, which actually represent the extremes. There is only one DRS zone on the main straight. The power unit’s energy distribution strategies must take this into account to maximise the chances of overtaking and minimise the chances of being overtaken.”
Another characteristic aspect of Imola is the heavy jumps on the curbs to which the cars are subjected, an aspect to also take into consideration when talking about power unit management:
“The drivers exploit the curbs in a rather aggressive manner here, especially at the corner of the Acque Minerali and at the Variante Alta,” adds Mosconi. “It is, therefore, necessary to choose the correct gear and the most suitable trajectory to avoid reliability problems which may be due to over-revving.”
