Preview

F1 Imola GP: Five things to watch out for

Formula 1 returns to Europe, with another triple-header kicking off in Imola. What are the key talking points ahead of the race in Italy?

Can Piastri make it four in a row?

At this point, nothing about Oscar Piastri’s rise should come as a surprise. Over his first two seasons in F1, we’ve seen him steadily eliminate weakness after weakness. Tyre management, one-lap pace, consistency – it looks like he’s ticked all the boxes while retaining his core strengths. Calm, rational, and highly analytical, he’s now operating at the top of his game, winning one race after another.

Having started the season in the shadow of Lando Norris – widely tipped as a pre-season title contender – Piastri has not only kept up but now appears to be the leading McLaren driver. That shift has been aided by Norris’s recent struggles to piece together clean weekends since Australia. So the question remains: which of the two is truly the fastest?

If Norris manages to deliver a trouble-free weekend, it’ll be fascinating to see whether Piastri can still come out on top.

- Oleg Karpov

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Ferrari under spotlight in Italy

Imola, at the heart of Ferrari territory, is ready to welcome Formula 1 with the usual passion of the tifosi – one of the Scuderia’s greatest assets, but also a source of pressure. After a mixed start to the season, with a sprint win in China standing out as the only major highlight, Ferrari needs to deliver a response.

The layout of Imola should suit the SF-25 better than Miami did, and the team will introduce its first set of upgrades. However, the package won’t be especially extensive – not as significant as what rivals are planning for Spain, where Ferrari also has a bigger update lined up.

Can Williams keep fighting the big boys?

Williams has emerged in the last two races as the clear leader of the tightly packed midfield – and Imola presents the chance to show it can do more than beat its direct rivals. In Miami, Albon finished ahead of a Mercedes (Antonelli’s) and a Ferrari (Hamilton’s). Can Williams again shake up the usual top four?

The three upcoming European rounds, all held at traditional circuits, will help reveal whether Williams should keep targeting Q3 and minor points – or dare to dream of more.

The team benefits from having two highly-competitive drivers who can take advantage of any opportunity. But Imola will also reignite questions about the dynamic between them.

In Miami, team orders caused confusion – especially for Sainz. James Vowles took responsibility, stating it was a team error rather than a driver issue. But if the car remains competitive and both drivers keep pushing, intra-team battles could become a recurring headache – particularly if the team doesn’t clearly define who gets priority.

- Jose Carlos de Celis

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Colapinto’s first race for Alpine

Franco Colapinto couldn’t have asked for a better venue to start his Alpine career. The Argentinian knows Imola well, having produced strong results here in the past – winning in Formula 3 in 2022, and again in Formula 2 in 2024, the latter with a spectacular last-lap move for the lead on the outside of Tamburello.

While he’ll once again enjoy passionate support from his fans – as he did on debut in Monza last year – this time the spotlight will be brighter. Unlike his Williams cameo, Colapinto enters Imola with expectations, especially after Alpine’s decision to drop Jack Doohan just six races into 2025.

Antonelli’s first home race – another step?

There are milestone moments in every F1 driver’s journey: first race, first podium, first win – and the first home grand prix. This weekend, Andrea Kimi Antonelli gets to experience the latter at Imola, just a short distance from his hometown, surrounded by family, friends, and fans.

He knows the circuit from his junior years, but the challenge now is both physical and mental. There’s the ambition to deliver a strong result – something that will heavily depend on qualifying. So far, Antonelli has shown flashes of brilliance on Saturdays, but also the inconsistency typical of rookies.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

Then comes the emotional pressure of racing at home. But this is where Antonelli has stood out so far: composed, mature beyond his age, and supported firmly by Mercedes. With no major mistakes and solid performances so far, he has a strong foundation to build on – and will aim to make his first home race a memorable one.

- Gianluca D’Alessandro