#circuit analysis

You can tell that Imola is an old circuit based on the fact that so many of the corners have names, as I said in my previous post on the background of Imola - it couldn't be more different to the Bahrain track of the season opener. Where Bahrain is a low downforce power circuit with long straights and pretty stop-start corners, Imola is a fast flowing very technical and challenging circuit.

Turn 1

Just a left bend in the straight, barely noticeable.

Turn 2/3/4 (Variante Tamburello)

An extremely challenging corner, brake and sweep left, right and left again but accelerating the whole time. Misjudge the braking zone and it's straight into the gravel ahead. Cars will be travelling well over 200mph into turn 2 due to the DRS along the straight, there likely will be overtaking opportunities in this chicane however it is very important to get a good exit out of turn 3 as turn 4 is taken flat and its a long way to the next chicane.

Turn 5/6 (Variante Villeneuve)

Building up pace again, the first left bend is flat out, but a tighter right as drivers hit the brakes. Extremely easy to get it wrong and go off into the gravel. The curbs here are relatively flat allowing drivers to be really agressive in this chicane especially as they come out of turn 6.

Turn 7 (Tosa)

An iconic long open, left hairpin, plenty of time to be won and lost here depending on how the car sticks, and a good overtaking opportunity too. The exit here is crucial as it takes you uphill and all the way to a high speed left hander.

Turn 8

Uphill kink left

Turn 9/10 (Piratella)

Drive uphill as the left bend of Piratella comes into view. Could be done flat out easily but theres no room for mistakes.

Turn 11/12/13 (Acque Minerali)

Another corner where it's easy to go wrong as George Russell found out last year, keep the throttle planted through the first right bend then on the brakes for the second. Gravel surrounds the corner. Fly down the hill from turn 9 go flat out through 10 and try not to end up in the gravel or the wall.

Turn 14/15 (Variante Alta)

A tight, technical, but fast right-to-left chicane, much tighter than the previous two. Many drivers will almost straight line this chicane and take as much kerb as possible

Turn 16

Nothing more than a right kink to position the car for Rivazza.

Turn 17/18 (Rivazza)

Brake for this double left with a brief acceleration between. Into the run-off area or even worse gravel if you lock up at the first part. If you can stay close enough to the car ahead this hard breaking zone is a possible overtaking spot

Turn 19 (Variante Bassa)