FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2024'

Imola

Inspired by that naming choice, Mrs C and I travelled to the race at Imola, with our pals, via Florence. It's always great to combine an 'away race' with a few days exploring. Florence was good, although I preferred Rome in September (merging another big sporting event with a city break).

It was a really good trip and ways fun to see tracks for the fist time and how Grand Prix run in other countries.

First off, Italy is great - food, drink and service seems to be pretty good all over. Imola is a fun track and like many, is far more undulating than TV can possible show.

So a bit like Spa in that respect. It's a bit like Spa in another respect too - the place is a dump. At the risk of sounding like an F1 dinosaur, F1 and the FIA are taking spectators for mugs. The helicopter shots of the crowds look good on TV. Meanwhile, stewarding is non existent and the porta-loos are overflowing! And I don't remember voting for the inane F1 track TV or the incessant duff duff music from some DJ no one has ever heard of.

Poignant Weekend

Having said that, it was great to go. To some extent it's a bit of a pilgrimage. I remember vividly that terrible weekend 30 years ago. Rubens had his horrific crash, there was a start line collision that put a wheel into the grandstand and worse still, the deaths of Roland Ratzenburger and Ayrton Senna.

We visited the Senna memorial at the circuit which was very poignant. Many of the drivers had nods to both of them in their clothing, helmets, etc. But really, it was Seb Vettel who made the most fitting tribute. On the Thursday, he organised a run / walk / scoot round the circuit with all the drivers.

Then to top that, he drove Senna's final McLaren around the track, at pace, showing both Austrian and Brazilian flags from the cockpit. Some doughnuts to finish and not a dry eye in the house - the crowd excelled themselves too with their support.

Tifosi Lite

if you go to a Grand Prix in Italy, the crowd will always get a mention. In my view what we had at Imola was 'Tifosi Lite'. Decent numbers, not completely mad and an average singalong for their their national anthem (which is one of the best anthems). For 'Full Fat' Tifosi, visit Monza with a general admission pass.

Catching Red Bull

Ahead of the race, there was a new sense of excitement with most teams bringing upgrades that are actually closing the gap to Max's Red Bull. Not so hard to beat Perez who keeps being slow and gaff prone.

And with the upgrades working, we had a genuine Lando victory in Miami based on proper qualy and race pace. OK, there was slight fortune with the safety car but he had the pace anyway.

Pre-Race

And so to Imola. It was soooo close in Free Practice and qualy between Max's Red Bull, the McLarens and the Ferraris. It was hard o judge Checo's speed because he spent most of the weekend in a gravel trap. In fact, McLaren would have been on pole had Max not become tow buddies with Hulk.

The Merc's are getting faster too but are shooting at a moving target so were still 30 ends adrift by the en of the race - or 0.5 seconds per lap in the bit where points are awarded.

Two other surprises - first was how good the RBs were for both Yuki and Danny in qualy. Not quite so good in the race but encouraging. The other was the shocker of a weekend Fernando had - a bit like Checo, he seemed to like the Imola gravel.

The Race - Part One for the Purists

There was a stalemate for most of the race and it was probably one for the purists up to about lap 45. On mediums, Max was a tenth better than Lando, which gave him a six second lead by the pit stops. Ferrari were a tenth slower which meant Oscar was too - Imola is a narrow track and you need a bit more than he had to get by. The Mercs held on gamely for this segment but there were no place changes at the front.

The Race - Part Two for Everyone

Lando has become a tyre whisperer in the class of Max and Lewis. He matched Max for the first part of his hard tyre stint, while preserving the tyres. It meant he had Charles and Oscar (who jumped Carlos in the stops) for company.

Then from about lap 45 he got on his bike, gapping Charles and catching Max. We could not hear the radio messages at the track from Max but it was clear that the reducing gap wasn't caused by Max managing it.

By now, the Tifosi judged Charles was nailed on for a podium so started making their move to the entrances to the Pit Straight. That left a small but vocal following for Lando as he homed in on the Red Bull. This situation at Silverstone would have been proper noisy!

But it wasn't to be. Max just had enough. Roll on Silverstone and a Lando win! With his first win in Miami, that's that monkey of his back so I quite expect him to be putting his nose into places that Max won't like.

Not much I can add over and above what you will have read or watched.

Going Forward - Mystic Stu

I think I've seen enough now to say Max and his Red Bull has been caught. It's due to the usual F1 way where regs are settled and teams converge. And what everyone's favourite team boss has been saying all along. Red Bull will now be under severe pressure for the rest of the season, unless they find a 'super upgrade' or Checo sorts himself out.

And when there's pressure, there are mistakes and opportunities. I am also encouraged that it's not just McLaren. Ferrari are there too and didn't quite show it at Imola. I expect they'll all take points off each other to allow Max to take his fourth drivers crown but the Constructors is there for the taking.

Next up is Monaco which is about qualy and then a long run of proper circuits to really test all the upgrades. We'll be at Silverstone for the aforementioned Lando victory!