
Imola
Italy
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Track: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (Imola), is such a classic venue in Formula One. Imola has been able to deliver a lot of great action ever since its debut in the 1980 FIA Formula One World Championship. This also marked the 2nd time that Formula One has raced in Italy, for having to race two times in Italy in a singular season. The Emilia Romagna GP has been able to produce a lot of racing action, drama and heart-braking moments for the past 40 years, and has remained such a fan favorite.
Onboard Lap using EA SPORTS F1® 24

San Marino Grand Prix

Imola San Marino Track Layout 1980 - 1994 (racingcircuit.info)
Turns: 17
Laps: 60

Formula One had first raced in Italy at Monza during the sport's earliest years in the 1950s. F1 had eyes on the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, another circuit located in Imola (Italy). The circuit's layout impressed the sport, and immediately wanted to host a Formula One Grand Prix on that circuit. The first San Marino Grand Prix, would make it's debut in the 1980 FIA Formula One World Championship. Drivers would be facing serious elevation changes, as the track is placed in the mountains. They switched locations for the Italian Grand Prix, from the high speed circuit of Monza, due to the result of the 1978's startline pile-up, which claimed the lives of Swedish Driver Peterson. So when F1 chose to race in Imola, the Grand Prix was re-named to the Italian Grand Prix. The 1980 Italian Grand Prix (San Marino GP) was a success. The race was won by Nelson Piquet as he drove his Brabham-Ford across the line to win the Grand Prix after dominating the Grand Prix.
Nelson Piquet (Winner of the 1980 San Marino GP Imola)
During the 1990 San Marino GP, Ayrton Senna managed to grab pole position before the Grand Prix race. He led the race with a pretty big gap between him and the driver behind him. Unfortunately, he had to retire due to the breaking of a rim. Because of this, Riccardo Patrese won the Imola GP. However, when the 1991 San Marino GP started, Senna was unstoppable. Senna's brilliant drive allowed him to grab pole position, and take victory at the San Marino GP.

Ayrton Senna (Winner of the 1991 San Marino GP Imola)

Ayrton Senna's Fatal Crash (1994 San Marino GP)
However, when the 1994 San Marino GP came around the corner, it became one of Formula One's darkest days. During qualifying, Roland Ratzenberger had a fatal crash during his lap. When Ratzenberger was coming around the fast-left of Tamburello, the wing failed when Ratzenberger turned into the Villeneuve kink, becoming lodged underneath the front wheels, making his car go airborne for a moment, and led him straight to a concrete wall. After the crash, he was reported to have a fractured skull, which is what casued him the death. Unfortunately when it was time for Sunday's race, another fatal crash would soon occur. Ayrton Senna was uncomfortable with the car. According to Senna, he feels that the car is unstable or not adjusted to his likings. When the Grand Prix started, Senna immediately found himself in a bad situation. His car was unstable and continued to be after lap after lap. But on lap 7, the car suddenly lost control on the huge long turn of Turn 1, it went straight onto the gravel, and came towards the concreate wall in a speed of 211 km/h or 131mph. The race was immediately red-flagged as field marshals and medics rushed towards Senna's car. Senna was immediately rushed towards a nearby hospital for doctors to try and save his life. Meanwhile back in the circuit, there was one thing that all the drivers couldn't stop thinking of, Senna. But on 1:04pm, Ayrton Senna passed away.
The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was one of the sport's darkest hours yet. Never before the fans and the teams had seen 2 drivers passing away on the same Grand Prix. F1 never wanted to see something like this ever happen again, especially in Imola. So before the 1995 FIA Formula One World Championship, F1 was forced to re-design the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari GP Re-Design
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit Layout​
Turns: 15
DRS Zones: 1
Length: 4.90km (3.05mi)
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
1:15.484
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The circuit had to eventually be redesigned to avoid any fatal crashes from 1995 and onwards. Especially after the tragic accidents of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, Imola is still somewhat of a haunting track for the fans and teams. Not only in F1 but, other Motorsports such as Endurance racing and MotoGP, still haunts the drivers on track. F1 would also further improve the safety of the cars too. Right after the San Marino GP in 1994, the FIA strictly updated the rules and regulations for the rest of the 1994 FIA Formula One World Championship, to ensure that the drivers would be able to continue the season, under improved safety measures to the car and the tracks.
The revamped San Marino GP, was still able to bring more memorable moments to the sport. It was during then battle between Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher during the 2000 San Marino GP. It was Schumacher’s victory that marked Ferrari’s first win at Imola in 10 years, and insured his place in the organization’s record books. This win contributed to his ultimate pursuit of the 2000 World Championship, which he did win. Schumacher would continue to win the San Marino GP once again during the 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship. During the 2005 Formula One season, the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix is memorable for the extraordinary battle between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher, a precursor to their epic rivalry over the next few years. It marked a shift in the sport, with Alonso's rise signaling the decline of Schumacher's dominance.


Ferrari's First win at Imola in 10 years (2000 San Marino GP)
The epic showdown between Schumacher & Alonso (2000 San Marino GP)

2020 Emilia Romagna GP
When Formula One reached its 70th anniversary in 2020, the sport was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But when F1 finally got back and planned to race back at Imola, the grand prix was renamed from the San Marino GP, to the Emilia Romagna GP, due to a more fitting and appropriate name for the circuit based on it's location. When Formula One got back racing at Imola, the race was dominated by 7 time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The British driver was able to power his Mercedes W11 all the way through, till he'd eventually win the Grand Prix.

Hamilton vs Verstappen (2021 Emilia Romagna GP)

Leclerc spinning out (2022 Emilia Romagna GP)
Unfortunately, the 2023 Emilia Romagna GP was cancelled due to the bad weather at Imola. There were high levels of flood going on around the track and the city, which wasn't able to sustain F1's hospitalities properly in these poor conditions. Luckily, F1 would be back racing at Imola during the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race featured the battle for first place between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. This was one of the few races were Norris really pushed hard to try to catch up to Verstappen, as Verstappen was struggling with his Red Bull RB20 throughout the Grand Prix. Luckily, Verstappen was able to hold of Norris and take victory at Imola.
The 2021 Emilia Romagna GP had another fierce rivalry between the leading contenders in the world championship. Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen, fought wheel to wheel during the opening stages of the Grand Prix as the race happened during wet conditions. The race featured the crash between Williams's George Russell, and Mercedes's Valtteri Bottas, as well as Hamilton going of the road and onto the barrier as his car slightly bumped the barriers. He managed to continue on the race but, was beaten by Verstappen as he won the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP. During the 2022 season, Verstappen would eventually win the Grand Prix again after dominating the race as well as the addition of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc's unfortunate mistake as the Monegasque driver spun out which costs him in the Grand Prix.

Cancelled 2023 Emilia Romagna GP

Verstappen vs Norris (2024 Emilia Romagna GP)
Yet despite the track having a lot of mixed feelings from fans, The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, still remains a classic and a fan favorite to the sport. The track may have a lot of heart braking moments that still haunts a lot of fans and drivers till this day, but that will never stop the fans from loving this classic circuit.
WINNERS
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1980: Nelson Piquet​
1981: Nelson Piquet
1982: Didier Pironi
1983: Patrick Tambay
1984: Alain Prost
1985: Elio de Angelis
1986: Alain Prost
1987: Nigel Mansell
1988: Ayrton Senna
1989: Ayrton Senna
1990: Riccardo Patrese
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1991: Ayrton Senna​
1992: Nigel Mansell
1993: Alain Prost
1994: Michael Schumacher
1995: Damon Hill
1996: Damon Hill
1997: Heinz-Harald Frentzen
1998: David Coulthard
1999: Michael Schumacher
2000: Michael Schumacher
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2001: Ralf Schumacher​
2002: Michael Schumacher
2003: Michael Schumacher
2004: Michael Schumacher
2005: Fernando Alonso
2006: Michael Schumacher
2017: Lewis Hamilton
2020: Lewis Hamilton
2021: Max Verstappen
2022: Max Verstappen
2024: Max Verstappen