What challenges does the Imola circuit offer?

With the Formula One field set to complete the first European race of the 2025 F1 season, F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo picks out key features of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

The first quarter of the season is now done and dusted and, apart from a brief interlude in Canada in mid-June, the European season starts now, and goes on until the Italian Grand Prix on 7 September. The seventh round of the season sees Imola host the Emilia-Romagna e del Made in Italy Grand Prix which takes place at the Imola circuit, named in memory of Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino.

This part of the season, which contains the majority of races regarded as the classics of the championship, is thus bookended by rounds in Pirelli’s home country, which has hosted more rounds of the Drivers’ World Championship than any other nation. 74 out of a total of 107 races have been held in Monza, 31 in Imola, while Mugello and Pescara have hosted one apiece.

As far as the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is concerned, it is one of the most iconic and technical tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. Situated in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley, it is 4.909 kilometres long, with 19 corners – ten to the left and nine to the right – and runs anti-clockwise, which puts it in the minority of race tracks worldwide.

The Imola track is old-school, rather narrow, with high and aggressive kerbs, as well as several natural changes of elevation and corner sequences that alternate between requiring heavy braking and some flowing sections.

After the start comes the Tamburello corner, one of the fastest parts of the track, followed by the Villeneuve chicane and Tosa corner, where the driver wants to have good traction on exit. The Acque Minerali section is one of the most technical and spectacular, while the Alta chicane and the double left-hander at Rivazza complete a layout that rewards precision, stability and overall car balance.

As far as the tyre management is concerned, F1's sole tyre supplier Pirelli has noted "it is affected by the many acceleration and braking points, with tyres subjected to a low average load and limited degradation.

"However, the high kerbs can increase mechanical stress, especially on the suspension and tyres. Because of the limited overtaking opportunities, qualifying plays an important role, as does finding the right race strategy."