The 2023 F1 Season flies back into Europe for another Grand Prix with a funny name to allow the country to have multiple races and here to predict the winners and losers in advance is our 2023 F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Preview.
The Gurgler’s 2023 F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a few barely interesting stats and best bets.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time.
The track sort-of looks like a platypus or some kinds of bird under water, which is actually appropriate for this weekend, as it looks rather wet.
Imola has had a few changes made from its glory days, the major ones based on safety after the death of Ayrton Senna, but the recent tidying up of the last section of the track was a good idea.
Only one decent overtaking spot it might lead to a few freight train around the track, although again it looks wet so that may not matter. Perhaps they could turn Rivazza into a hairpin and straighten out the section before hand.
Acque Minerale is a decent set of corners and can certainly catch out the over-ambitious. Especially in the wet.
2023 Miami Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 6/10 – It’s not as fast as it used to be, but that’s probably a good thing. But it is still pretty fast in sections and a good test for the drivers.
ACTION? 8/10 – Normally this track would be a 3-4 for action, but with rain predicted we’re bumping that up.
BIG HISTORY? – 7/10 A decent back history as the San Marino Grand Prix, and has had a second lease of life thanks to Covid. Has been a place for big incidents and battles in the past. Some leading to complete fallout within the teams.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 10/10 According to The Weather Channel, there’s an 80% chance of rain on Sunday. And with a threat of localised flooding in the region, we are hoping it is not too much. Remembering Monaco Grand Prix in 2022.
RACE RATING 78% – Likely wet weather bumps up the score on a track that has a bit of history but usually proves hard for overtaking.
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
Fernando Alonso is the only driver to have competed in both the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and the San Marino Grand Prix – of the current drivers.
- Qualifying to be washed out and take place on Sunday. Which will also be wet.
- If Daniel Riicardo is there at the track, he will be on screen seconds after any incident for Nyck de Vries.
- Sergio Perez to choke in qualifying.
- George Russell to take front row grid slot.
- Pierre Gasly to retire on lap one.
- All British drivers to make it into Q3. Alex Albon to score points.
- The pre-race procedure will have at least 75% less bullsh!t than the Miami Grand Prix.
- A top six qualifying effort from Nicpo Hulkenberg and continued bad luck in the race.
- 99% of F1 fans will be unable to recall where either Alfa Romeo driver finishes 30 minutes after the race, such is their obscurity in 2023.
As ever we like to reminisce about Formula 1 here at The Gurgler, with the fondest of memories of 1980’s / 1990’s Formula 1. Especially with the Voice of F1 Murray Walker providing the soundtrack.
The track at Imola may not have a great history of spectacular racing, but it does have a long line of big battles.
1982 – PIRONI v VILLENEUVE
British based F1 teams boycotted the race due to politics at the time, so only 14 or so cars started. The turbo Renaults and Ferraris were a class of their own, and Ferrari had learned how to get their car to finish a race. So Villeneuve and Pironi were out in front by themselves with a massive lead. They swapped the lead several times for entertainment, but towards the end the team hung out a hold positions order with VIlleneuve leading. Pironi waited until the last lap to break the agreement and steal the race win. Villeneuve vowed not to speak to Pironi for the rest of his life, which he was able to do as he was killed a fortnight later.
1989 – SENNA v PROST
This is where the famed fallout really started. There was an agreement between the drivers not to overtake after the start, and Senna led the first part of the race, which was halted when Gerhard Berger turned his Ferrari into a fireball and somehow survived. But on the restart Prost nailed the start and led Senna approaching the first corner. Prost wasn’t expecting Senna to break the agreement, but he did and it led to all-out war for the rest of the season and beyond.
2005 / 2006 – ALONSO v SCHUMACHER
A classic leader holding on for dear life two years in a row under intense pressure from the car behind, with the leader and follower reversed between seasons.
2021 – BOTTAS v RUSSELL
George Russell takes Valtteri Bottas out at high speed, and then blames it on the then Mercedes driver slapping his helmet before checking if the Finn was dead or not. He later pulled his head out his arse and apologised.
