Imola GP: Formula 1 returns to one of its most iconic venues as the 2025 season heads to Imola GP for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Steeped in history and backed by passionate fans, the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit offers an unforgiving layout that demands precision and bravery. Following a run of high-speed tracks, this technical challenge marks a pivotal shift in the championship narrative. As teams arrive in Italy, all eyes are on who can conquer the old-school demands of this legendary circuit.

About The Track

The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari—better known as Imola—is a classic driver’s circuit steeped in Formula 1 heritage. Nestled in the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna, this 4.9-kilometer track runs counter-clockwise—one of the few circuits on the calendar to do so. Imola is renowned for its flowing rhythm, technical demands, and minimal margin for error, with narrow asphalt and unforgiving gravel traps lining much of the layout. Unlike many modern venues, it retains a distinctly old-school character, with elevation changes that challenge both car setup and driver focus.

Among its most iconic sections are the high-speed, downhill sweep of Piratella, the tricky Acque Minerali complex with its undulating surface, and the Variante Alta chicane, which demands aggressive use of the curbs and perfect timing. Overtaking is notoriously difficult here, but the best opportunities typically come into the Tamburello chicane at the end of the main straight or under braking into Rivazza—especially when DRS and tire strategy shake things up in the closing stages.

Pirelli’s Specification

The new C6 compound is set to make its race debut at the Imola GP, as Pirelli has selected the softest trio from its 2025 range for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend: C4 as Hard, C5 as Medium, and C6 as Soft. This will mark the first appearance of the C6 on this season’s cars, as it was not used during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Homologated for circuits that place minimal stress on tyres, the C6 is expected to offer superior grip over a single flying lap—particularly on Imola’s relatively smooth and low-abrasion surface. While it’s unlikely to feature in race stints due to durability concerns, data gathered here, as well as from upcoming races in Monaco and Montreal, will help Pirelli assess its viability for use in the latter half of the season.

Stories This Weekend

Franco Colapinto’s Alpine Debut

Arriving as first time as an @AlpineF1Team driver, with one thing on his mind… 🍕🍕🍕 pic.twitter.com/3ayq4WxEyG

— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) May 15, 2025

Franco Colapinto returns to the Formula 1 paddock with the French outfit, Alpine. The team recently announced the departure of Team Principal Oliver Oakes, and shortly after confirmed that Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five Grands Prix.

Piastri’s Winning Streak

Oscar Piastri is riding a career-high wave with a three-race winning streak, extending his points advantage over teammate Lando Norris. After a missed opportunity in Miami, Norris will be looking to bounce back—and the Imola GP could be just the place to do it. The Brit has historically performed well here, often exceeding expectations at this classic circuit.

MCL39 in Imola 🔜⏳#McLaren pic.twitter.com/gASVuwLGTl

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 12, 2025

Antonelli’s Home Race

It’s Kimi Antonelli’s first home race weekend of the season—and of his Formula 1 career. While the home support is guaranteed, it also brings immense pressure to deliver on familiar soil. With Mercedes introducing a fresh upgrade package for the Imola GP, Antonelli will be aiming to close the gap to the front. The German outfit will be hoping to hit the ground running and turn a new page in their 2025 campaign.

There's nowhere like Imola. Can't wait to be back 🤩 pic.twitter.com/lKrY9lg5Js

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 14, 2025

Big Showings For Ferrari

Ferrari heads into its first home race of the season at Imola, and that means one thing—the Tifosi will be out in full force. The team is bringing a significant upgrade package this weekend, hoping it will unlock more performance and bring clarity to the car’s behavior. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have historically performed well at this circuit, and with the home crowd behind them, they’ll be aiming to secure a solid haul of points.

Weekends are for racing 🔴 pic.twitter.com/C8iM36VIZR

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 15, 2025

Weekend Schedule

📅 | Here is the Weekend Schedule for Formula 1's 🇮🇹 Emilia-Romagna GP and Formula E's 🇯🇵 Tokyo E-Prix.

Note: All timings mentioned are in 🇮🇳 Indian Standard Time.#F1 #Formula1 #ImolaGP #FormulaE #TokyoEPrix pic.twitter.com/hZKR225QGz

— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) May 13, 2025

Weather Forecast

Friday: 19°C, Wind 11 km/h, 1% chance of rain
Saturday: 21°C, Wind 11 km/h, 5% chance of rain
Sunday: 23°C, Wind 13 km/h, 46% chance of rain in spots in the afternoon.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

Papaya Power: McLaren’s Statement Weekend

McLaren delivered a flawless performance in Miami GP, walking away with maximum points in both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. In what has become a familiar sight, Oscar Piastri led the charge, claiming his third consecutive Grand Prix victory and cementing his status as the 2025 title favorite.

Saturday’s Sprint was briefly derailed for Piastri by a late-race Safety Car, allowing teammate Lando Norris to swoop in and snatch P1. However, Sunday belonged to Oscar, who cruised to victory after Norris’s early clash with Max Verstappen at Turn 1. The incident forced Norris off track, denying him a proper shot at the win.

Post-race, Norris made headlines by stating, “It’s crash or don’t pass with Max,” accusing Verstappen of “not racing smart.” While Norris showed pace, the challenge now is translating it into strategic, successful racecraft under pressure.

IT’S A PAPAYA DOUBLE PODIUM IN MIAMI! 🧡 #McLaren | #MiamiGP 🏝️ pic.twitter.com/pzvwJUiVQr

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 4, 2025

Verstappen Fights Hard, But Falls Short

Red Bull faced a rare stumble in the Miami GP. Max Verstappen’s weekend began with a nightmare — a 10-second penalty for an unsafe pit release during the Sprint dropped him to P17, marking his first non-scoring finish in nearly a decade.

Yuki Tsunoda salvaged some pride by finishing P6 in the Sprint and grabbing the final point in Sunday’s race. Verstappen’s recovery drive in the Grand Prix was gritty but not enough. After fierce battles with the McLarens and a post-Safety Car shuffle, he found himself stuck behind George Russell, finishing a frustrated P4.

A chaotic Race in Miami comes to a close 🤯

Max showed grit with some epic battles to land P4. Yuki stayed sharp, finishing in the points once again.

🏁 PIA, NOR, RUS, Max 👊, ALB, ANT, LEC, HAM, SAI, Yuki 🫶#F1 || #MiamiGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lDwE15SU8r

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) May 4, 2025

Mercedes Returns to the Podium

Kimi Antonelli shocked the grid on Friday with a sensational Sprint pole, showing that Mercedes’ future is bright. But a Turn 1 tangle with Piastri and a drive-through penalty — triggered by Verstappen’s unsafe release — derailed his Sprint hopes.

In Sunday’s race, the rookie started P3 but dropped back to finish P6. George Russell, meanwhile, quietly went about his business. After being outqualified by Antonelli, Russell capitalized on a mid-race Safety Car to leapfrog Verstappen and secure a hard-earned P3 — Mercedes’ first Miami GP podium.

Max Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for unsafe release. He collided with Kimi Antonelli at the pit lane in the sprint race 😱 pic.twitter.com/ef8s2CAjfT

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 3, 2025

That’s P3 and P6 for George and Kimi 👊

Another strong weekend for the Team and our first podium in Miami 👏 pic.twitter.com/MERRhu0Heb

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 4, 2025

Williams Shows True Grit

The Grove-based outfit impressed again with sheer pace. While Saturday’s Sprint didn’t go their way — Carlos Sainz suffered a puncture and Albon missed the top ten — Sunday was a redemption story.

Albon delivered a stellar P5 finish, once again showing his maturity and speed under pressure. Sainz, engaged in a fierce midfield battle, brought home a solid P9. Together, they added 12 points to Williams’ growing tally and continued to punch above their weight.

Bringing TWELVE points back to Grove 😮‍💨

What a weekend for the team 💙#DrivenByMyprotein @Myprotein pic.twitter.com/GPbvRh0HGf

— Atlassian Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) May 4, 2025

Ferrari: Strategic Misfires and Internal Friction

It was a weekend of contrasts for Ferrari. Saturday saw Charles Leclerc crash on his out lap to the grid, ending his Sprint before it began. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton capitalized on a slick tire gamble to take a surprising P3.

Sunday was far less fruitful. Ferrari lacked race pace, and strategic confusion reigned — with Hamilton on fresher tires stuck behind Leclerc for several laps. Frustrated radio calls highlighted growing tension. The Scuderia crossed the line in P7 and P8, continuing their trend of inconsistent race-day execution.

Lewis Hamilton’s radio messages already deserve their own Netflix series. Drama, sarcasm, and tea breaks included. 😬😬😬😬#F1 #Ferrari #Netflix #TeamLH pic.twitter.com/yHlgCmP8JW

— CHEQUERED FLAG 🏁 (@cfmagindia) May 5, 2025

Aston Martin: Lone Points for Stroll

A chaotic weekend yielded just four points for Aston Martin, courtesy of Lance Stroll’s composed Sunday drive. Fernando Alonso had a forgettable outing, with Sprint-ending contact and a solo spin in the same corner during the race capping off a frustrating weekend.

Our #MiamiGP race results. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/eVvT9Z7i7O

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 4, 2025

Alpine’s Tumultuous Turn: On and Off Track

Alpine’s on-track performance continued to underwhelm — Pierre Gasly snatched a single Sprint point, while Jack Doohan’s Grand Prix ended on Lap 1 due to a puncture.

The big story, however, was off-track. Team Principal Oliver Oakes stepped down, replaced by the returning Flavio Briatore. In another shake-up, Doohan was dropped, with Argentine talent Franco Colapinto announced as his replacement for Imola.

BREAKING: As per multiple news reports Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at Alpine from the upcoming Imola GP 👀#F1 pic.twitter.com/OfGlXrNNKb

— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) May 5, 2025

Standings

Increasing the lead out front! 👏

Here's how the drivers' standings now look after Miami 👇 #F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/yNApX3xpUs

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2025

Papaya out front! 👀

Let's take a look at how the teams stack up ⬇️#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/6Ko4UhO1yO

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2025

Oscar Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship with authority, while McLaren’s back-to-back double podiums have catapulted them into the lead in the Constructors’ standings.

Next Stop: Imola

The paddock now heads to Imola — a track where McLaren traditionally shines. Lando Norris has fond memories here, while Piastri will be keen to extend his winning streak. All eyes will also be on debutant Franco Colapinto and whether Max Verstappen can claw back momentum in the title fight.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

May 7 2025 – a date Jack Doohan will never forget – marked the day that Argentine driver Franco Colapinto was announced as Doohan’s replacement at Alpine. Son of Mick Doohan, Australian rookie Jack Doohan had been under pressure of losing his seat way before he got to start his first full season at Albert Park, his home race. Rumours of him having only 5 races to prove his worth, until eventually being replaced by Colapinto, started spreading across the paddock during F1 testing. And since then, it had only gotten worse for Doohan with his rookie errors, and sub-par performance.

With a top tier start to his karting career, the kid from Gold Coast, Queensland, seemed to be destined for greatness. The son of a five-time MotoGP World Champion, introduced to racing in a kart gifted by a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion – it was a story that set the stage for Doohan’s career. Unfortunately for him, genes and funding were not enough to save his short-lived Formula 1 career at Alpine.

Let’s review his performance across the seven races he took part in as an Alpine driver.

SEASON OPENERS

Jack Doohan had a lukewarm debut in Melbourne, having qualified P14 , with his teammate Pierre Gasly outqualifying him at P9. The wet season opener was a tricky race for the rookies as even F1 veterans, like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, struggled to keep the car on track. Doohan under slippery conditions ended his race in the barriers, at turn 5 on the first lap.

Jack expressed his views on his disappointing start to the season during post-race interviews:

“Lesson Learned.”

Shanghai was an opportunity for Doohan to come back stronger after a disappointing season opener in front of his home crowd. Despite starting the Sprint Race at P16, he finished last at P20.

Jack was also given a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Gabriel Bortoleto, but the penalty made no difference, as he qualified P20 anyway. He was handed another 10-second time penalty during the race for forcing Isack Hadjar off the track, resulting in him finishing P13.

ASIAN TRIPLE HEADER

The Japanese GP was an uneventful race, with the top 10 finishing in the same order as they qualified, apart from Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar swapping between P7 and P8. In contrast, Jack Doohan’s P15 finish, having started 4 places below – at P19 – sounds delightful. But despite his efforts of maintaining a clean race, he’ll be remembered for his crash during FP2. Doohan forgot to manually press the DRS button to close the rear wing flap, resulting in a hefty crash at Turn 1. Although it was similar to Marcus Ericsson’s infamous crash due to DRS failure at Monza 2018, in Doohan’s case, it was confirmed to be a driver error, rather than a mechanical failure.

After the pre-season testing at Bahrain, the teams had enough data about the track and their cars to bring necessary upgrades. Alpine’s package seemed promising as Doohan put his car up at a career-best P11 in qualifying, which he converted into a P14 in the race, earning a 5-second time penalty for impeding track limits.

Jeddah, another uneventful race for Doohan, was where he qualified P17 and ended the race in the same position, while his teammate Gasly retired due to collision damage.

FLAWED AT FLORIDA

Miami being a sprint weekend, provided Doohan with 2 separate racing events to prove his worth to his team. He qualified P17 for the sprint and remained at the back of the field, only finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who dropped to last after his 10-second time penalty. Unfortunately, this seemed to be the highlight of his weekend as he retired after a collision with Lawson on the first lap of the Grand Prix.

Alpine Struggles

The BWT Alpine F1 Team stands at 9th position in the World Constructors Championship 2025 with 7 points – merely one point ahead of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber at 10th. With the Doohan drama going on, Oliver Oakes, Alpine’s team principal, seemed to be his only support within the team. Oakes – who relaunched Hitech GP, a British motor racing team in 2015 – is close with Jack, as he raced for the same team in the F3 Asian Championship in 2019. As power struggles arise within the team during discussions related to Doohan’s future, they issued a statement on 7th May 2025 announcing Oliver’s resignation with immediate effect.

The news of Flavio Briatore taking over Oliver Oakes’ role at the team was music to Colapinto’s ears, as he had been very critical of Doohan from the start while praising the Argentine throughout.

Flavio comments on the situation, denying favouritism rumours:

“I don’t accept it when they say that Doohan was under pressure, because when you arrive in Formula 1, everyone is under pressure.”

Multiple reports claimed that Franco Colapinto was set to replace Doohan from the Imola GP. And just 12 hours after Oliver’s resignment, BWT Alpine F1 Team announces the Franco-Doohan swap with immediate effect. It all lined up perfectly for Franco Colapinto but also for Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, who had been looking for his comeback in Formula 1 after being banned from the sport in 2008 for cheating scandals.

Although it has been stated that Franco makes the step up only for the next 5 races, judging by his past performances and Alpine’s bias towards him, it looks like he is here to stay for the remainder of the season. He will be closely monitored till the Austrian GP as Jack Doohan still stays with the team, taking on the role of first-choice Reserve Driver.

Alpine’s choice to let Franco take the seat, albeit rushed, seems justified. The young Argentine’s Formula 1 track record is exceptional, having made his debut with Williams last year as he replaced the underperforming Logan Sargeant. He performed really well and kept his then-teammate Alex Albon on his toes. In his second race at Baku, he outscored Nicolas Latifi and Logan Sargeant’s total points tally in 68 GPs, finishing P8.

Even though Jack didn’t deliver his best performance, you can’t not feel bad for the rookie. 6 races should not be the benchmark for a rookie to perform at the highest levels, but unfortunately in this day and age of Formula 1, it is pretty much do or die. With multiple young talents waiting for you to slip up, make a mistake, and snatch your seat, average performance sees no place to thrive.

Doohan says, after the swap:

“I will keep my head down, keep working hard.”

It is tough to see someone’s career start with a kart gifted from seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, and end abruptly with only 7 races under his name. Never finishing in points and 2 DNFs; we, with a heavy heart, bid goodbye to Jack Doohan.