Formula 1
San Marino McLaren Preview
The West McLaren Mercedes team approaches the European season having consolidated its lead in the Constructors' Championship during the South American leg of the World Championship trail. The Imola track carries with it an interesting history. The ...
Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The West McLaren Mercedes team approaches the European season having consolidated its lead in the Constructors' Championship during the South American leg of the World Championship trail.
The Imola track carries with it an interesting history. The first non-championship Formula One race took place in 1979 and was won by Niki Lauda for Brabham. It was in the same year that the circuit came into prominence when it was announced that it would host the 1980 Italian Grand Prix. The Italian Grand Prix then reverted back to Monza in 1981 leaving Imola to become the home of another regular fixture on the grand prix calendar - the San Marino Grand Prix.
The track is named after Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino and as you would expect is the home of Ferrari fans, otherwise known as the "Tifosi". A terrific atmosphere is created by the "Tifosi", who can be seen gathered on the slopes surrounding the circuit long before the weekend begins in earnest.
The flow of the circuit has bee n truncated since the introduction of chicanes to slow down the pace, which in turn has reduced the number of overtaking opportunities. Despite this, it is still a favourite track amongst the drivers and one at which McLaren have enjoyed considerable success over the years.
`I like Imola' commented David Coulthard, `even with the recent changes it offers an interesting challenge and I normally go reasonably well there. It is like a smaller version of Monza with shorter straights and slower speeds but the f eel is very similar.'
`Last year's Grand Prix was full of incident for me and I was rather frustratingly caught behind Alesi, spending a major part of the race battling with him", said Mika, `This year I feel more confident than ever with the car and am looking forward to the first European race of the season'.
`The team has been testing in between returning from Argentina and leaving for Imola,' said Ron Dennis. `It is our intention to continue the development of the MP4-13 in order to stay ahead of the
competition. The result of the Argentine Grand Prix only goes to prove how short lived technical advantage can be and at McLaren we understand that it is only through constant hard work and development that races and ultimately Championships can be won.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Barcelona Tyrrell Briefing on X-Wings
Next article Spanish GP Race Story
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Niki Lauda
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Niki Lauda's championship-winning Ferrari 312T returns in Austria as son takes wheel
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Niki Lauda's championship-winning Ferrari 312T returns in Austria as son takes wheel
Mercedes welcome Niki Lauda's family at F1 Austrian GP: "A legacy that lives on"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Mercedes welcome Niki Lauda's family at F1 Austrian GP: "A legacy that lives on"
More from
Ferrari
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
4 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 55 min
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Moto2
MOT2 Moto2
Phillip Island
1 h
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe