In the round-up: Imola, which was absent from the F1 calendar from 2006 until 2020, will stay on the grand prix circuit for four years now.
In brief
Imola set for new four-year F1 deal
The regional administration of Emilia-Romagna claims it has agreed terms for Formula 1 to return to the Imola circuit in a new, four-year deal.A €20 million annual package jointly funded by national and regional governments, plus the Automobile Club of Italy, has been agreed to keep Italy’s second F1 race on the calendar until 2025. F1 returned to Imola last year following a 14-year absence, prior to which the track had held a grand prix every year since 1980.
The race’s return on the 2022 F1 calendar it expected to come at the expense of the Paul Ricard circuit in France. It will continue to hold the official title of “Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna”.
Aston Martin pair “all fine” after Sochi clash
Lance Stroll says that there are no problems between himself and team mate Sebastian Vettel following their late-race contact in the Russian Grand Prix.
“It was all fine after the race,” said Stroll. “I mean fortunately, nothing happened. Conditions were tricky.
“I was looking at the apex of turn 10 and Sebastian came alongside and I didn’t expect him there. I think it was just one of those moments, tricky conditions, things like that can happen. But nothing happened in the end, there was no no damage done.”
Latifi gets confidence boost from improved Williams form
Nicholas Latifi says Williams’ improved performance has boosted his confidence.
“I definitely think there’s some positive momentum from the consistency,” said Latifi. “I feel I’ve been finding in the performances, even stemming back to the races before, the pace and the performance was there to even get in many more Q2s before this streak that I’ve put together.
“So I’m definitely gaining, from the few races spanning back before the summer break, some confidence that the performance is more consistently there.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
El piloto ganador de la pole position del #MexicoGP 2021, ¡recibirá una réplica certificada del casco con el que Juan Manuel Fangio conquistó su primer título de #F1! 👏🇲🇽🏎
Conoce todos los detalles ➡️ https://t.co/KmuSnm8Cig pic.twitter.com/8rVJ9oyupe— Mexico Grand Prix 🇲🇽 (@mexicogp) October 7, 2021
Mad that in a professional sport like F1, we have a "press conference" that has become congested with moderated questions and generic questions from kids when those sat in the room next door don't have enough time to ask their own questions.
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) October 7, 2021
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Getting to know the real Lawson (F2)
"My first hero was Lewis Hamilton, but then when I was a little bit older and understood more about motorsport, it was the New Zealand drivers, like Mitch Evans, Richie Stanaway, Nick Cassidy, Scott Dixon and Brendan Hartley. Richie was the guy who I looked up to the most, my coach Enzo Mucci used to work with him and that’s how we met."
Even in football's hall of infamy, Saudi Arabia represents a new low (The Telegraph)
"You expect this type of cynicism in boxing, where Eddie Hearn has long since shelved any moral dilemmas to negotiate the best possible contracts for his fighters. You expect it in Formula One, too, where Bernie Ecclestone – admittedly in jest – did not discount holding races in Syria or North Korea so long as the price was right."
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Comment of the day
Stephen Higgins thinks Red Bull’s white livery as a tribute for Honda is a bit of a damp squib.
To be honest, given that most of the stuff plastered over the car is their own Red Bull logo still, they’ve hardly gone the extra mile.
They’ve basically added a bit of white background. Tiny Honda, massive Red Bull logo.
They could have gone for an all-white plus red spot and sneaked a little Red Bull in a corner somewhere. They are generating a lot of publicity for a fairly mean effort.
Stephen Higgins
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Niefer (@niefer)
8th October 2021, 0:27
I don’t mind the little Pirelli replicas, but a replica of such a legendary casque is the way to go! :)
Also, really glad for Imola’s renewal. If it’s indeed in place of Paul Ricard, I’ll be ecstatic!
Sam Crawford
8th October 2021, 0:47
Disagree with the COTD, they are going for a Honda tribute, not a full blown a Honda livery, and therefore I think the white with red accents, but Red Bull branding is very fitting.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
8th October 2021, 2:52
I was under the impression they were aiming to mimic the 1965 RA272 specifically. It would be cool to see Perez and Verstappen on blue rectangles with the text in white running somewhere between the side pods and the front wheels and a much more prominent red circle. The livery they’ve settled on has little to do with Ginther’s Honda.
Trayambak Chakravarty (@major-dev)
8th October 2021, 8:25
Considering that car was also number 11, that would have been nice :)
@HoHum (@hohum)
8th October 2021, 20:50
“generating a lot of publicity for a fairly mean effort” Job done, bonus expected.
Red Pill (@redpill)
8th October 2021, 2:22
Good news for F1 fans the races being held in countries that have been in question due to covid restrictions. Today the UK has pretty much removed all countries from it’s Red List; only seven are left on the list and none of them have F1 races.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2021, 8:44
@redpill Monday, so not yet. Nevertheless, I checked, & yes, many countries will get removed with only seven left, none of which is Mexico or Brazil.
If only this would’ve happened earlier, so both or at least the former wouldn’t have moved since Red List is the sole reason they got moved from previously scheduled weekends (original for Mexico) in the first place, but oh well.
Kevin C (@kev-f1)
8th October 2021, 9:13
I didn’t think the reason for them moving or being cancelled was about the UK red list – surely it’s the Host country’s restrictions that have curtailed them?
Red Pill (@redpill)
8th October 2021, 9:48
@kev-f1 That only applied to Japan and Australia. This is in regards to the countries/races presently shown on the current F1 calendar with countries that were still on the UK Red List that would have made them a no-go for UK teams.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2021, 12:19
@kev-f1 Already explained, but yes, Red List was the sole reason to have both followed by a race weekend rather than a non-race one. Still, keeping them where they were & placing Qatar on the weekend before SA would’ve been better despite having two consecutive non-race weekends like between Bahrain & Imola.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
8th October 2021, 4:13
All these platitudes about human rights et al….stop already.
Sure, do I think those are important? Of course I do.
I know that Telegraphy article isnt exactly related to what I am about to say, but We all get it, you need the sound bites, the insta posts etc…but we all also know that people in professional sport dont really care about any of this. Its a business, money talks, and there is nothing wrong with that. I will not have anything against anyone in sport, business, entertainment or whatever, doing business in these places if they just go about it without the blatant virtual signalling, enough. Thats why I respected Bernie, he was straight. We were never under any illusions as to who he was, he only cared about making money, and he was honest about it. Does that mean I agree with him? No.
If you really care, boycott the World Cup. Dont race in Saudi Arabia or China. Dont play for Newcastle, or City, or PSG.
I really can’t stand the hypocrisy.
jff
8th October 2021, 8:34
I agree that a sport cannot, and should not, boycott everything we disagree with.
I do expect though that sports people can freely share their thoughts like Vettel sharing his views on the many death on the Autobahn, he should be able to stick his neck out and talk about what causes many deaths in Saudi Arabia.
Maybe of those kids can ask that question :P
S
8th October 2021, 6:15
There are so many better places to sign a deal with than Imola. It’s just so unsuitable for F1 cars now – and has been for 30 years already.
In all honesty, I’d rather watch them at Paul Ricard. At least there are some overtaking opportunities there.
Balue (@balue)
8th October 2021, 7:02
Totally. For me it’s near a disaster to hear it’s 3 more years of Imola, proving again that all the talk of improving the racing is really just chatter when nothing matters more in this regard than the track.
Niefer (@niefer)
8th October 2021, 19:01
@balue and @S – I don’t know. We’re up to a point where virtually any venue has got bad racing. I worry more about the cars: they are gradually drifting away from what improves racing. Even with the new regs I’m not confident it will substantially improve.
Still, I will support almost any track before Paul Ricard that chooses to utilise Mistral chicane, it’s bizarre. I’d actually take Sochi over it without second thought.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
8th October 2021, 7:18
Imola, what great news.
It is a great track.. Tilke should pay attention.
S
8th October 2021, 8:28
I’ll bet he does pay attention – unfortunately his customers don’t seem to want that kind of circuit anymore.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2021, 8:49
I like Circuit Paul Ricard, but not the world’s end if it gets replaced by Imola.
Re Ben Hunt’s tweet: I’m okay with this two drivers per segment format in use since last season’s opening Austrian GP. I would ax the kid question part as this has become redundant + allow attending journalists in the press conference room again, i.e., video/email questions only from those not in attendance.
COTD: I disagree.
Qeki (@qeki)
8th October 2021, 9:57
Bring on Gran Premio Made in Italy e Emilia Romagna di autodromo enzo e dino ferrari in Imola, Italy 2022
Stephen Higgins
8th October 2021, 10:47
Will it still be the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, or will they go back to calling it the San Marino Grand Prix ?
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2021, 12:20
Emilia-Romagna, of course.