Imola, Italy
A track full with history but also haunted by it. There is no way Imola can be mentioned with F1 without the tragic passing of one it’s greatest heroes. In the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Aryton Senna tragically lost his life after his active suspension failing causing a giant crash that put him in a coma and then later saw him pass. Being one of the best to ever to do, Senna is greatly intertwined with the track even today with each year the parade visits his legacy always being remembered. Be it in a helmet design such as Pierre Gasly honoured him through or just the stories of his racing legacy, Imola is always a place where Senna is in the minds of those in the paddock and watching alike.
Much like Senna, the track is known as being one of the giants of the sport; every time Imola is reinstated on the calendar, fans and drivers alike becoming overwhelmed with the anticipation to return to one of the best designed tracks in the world.
First technically hosting a race in 1980 (it first hosted a non-championship race in 1963), the track immediately became a fan favourite, working in harmony with Monza from 1981 onwards after much dispute with the other infamous Italian track. It hosted a total of 27 grand prix until 2006 before it’s removal, only to return when F1 most needed it when looking for host tracks in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Although in the 2020 there were three Italian Grand Prix, Imola stood out on it’s own as the track displayed the cars in a beautiful manner. The 2021 Grand Prix was just as fun to watch with the wet weather providing thrills and spills throughout race, such as Hamilton’s near race ending off before his astonishing drive to 2nd place and Russell and Bottas’ infamous crash.
Take it from Gasly himself, the experience of driving the track is one of the best in a formula one car. I’m really looking forward to seeing the 1990s inspired Ferrari of 2022 go around the track purely for the old school aesthetic. In some way, that may be the epitome of describing this track; while other heritage tracks see themselves modernise to suit current needs of Formula One, such as Spa changing Eau Rogue this year, Imola is constant, never changing and giving F1 what it needs without needing to. In one of the most gorgeous parts of Italy, up in the Tuscan hills, it’s a bucket list race and if you miss it now, there’s always the feeling it will return shortly enough for you to see it again.
Aryton Senna (1960-1994)
Siempre, Senna
