For some people of a certain age, Imola evokes devastating memories of 1994. It is probably why two huge crashes in qualifying yesterday caused more shock than had they happened at another circuit.
The San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 saw F1 legend Ayrton Senna and fellow driver Roland Ratzenberger killed in separate incidents on a tragic weekend.
It’s in part why the high-powered circuit disappeared from the F1 calendar, before being modernized and then returning in 2020 as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Much like Monza, Imola is a special venue for Ferrari — and one where track position is all important with overtaking hard to come by.
Still, tire supplier Pirelli has gone softer on its compounds at the circuit for 2025 to promote differing strategies, and we live in hope the call comes off. It has certainly confused some of the teams this weekend.
Here are the key circuit facts:
- Circuit length: 4.909 km (3.050 miles)
- Laps: 63
- Lap record: 1:15.484s (Lewis Hamilton, 2020)
- First GP: 1980
You can take a trip around Imola’s twists, turns and history in Madeline Coleman’s circuit breakdown, which is linked below.
GO FURTHER
F1’s Imola track breakdown: A classic, narrow circuit with a dangerous legacy