From Imola
Max Verstappen challenges the world championship again. One swallow does not make a spring, but at Imola Red Bull scored a convincing victory, showing a very respectable pace that confirms the effectiveness of the upgrades, surprising even McLaren. Ferrari finishes just off the podium in a comeback, almost erratic considering the pace difference from Saturday to Sunday. The answer, once again, lies in the tires.
Max sublime, but Red Bull is there
Right from the start Verstappen delivers a champion’s move, braking hard at Tamburello on the rubbered racing line. The world champion takes advantage of Piastri defending from Russell, gaining the chance to run in clean air. However, the Imola triumph is not a copy of the Suzuka win. Max’s race was not defensive but a steady ride with a car that until two weeks ago suffered from tire degradation. When running on the same tires as McLaren, the Dutchman doesn’t let them close in. The fast pace in the opening laps leaves rivals no choice but to try an early stop with Piastri, switching to a two-stop strategy that proved less effective on a day when the tires stabilized after an initial apparent heavy degradation.
Verstappen doesn’t drive defensively, continuing on his path to the final win with a calmness that reflects a Red Bull equipped to challenge the McLaren duo. The Imola track and environmental conditions helped reduce McLaren’s advantage seen in Miami, but Andrea Stella acknowledges the rivals’ merits: “I have to say today we were surprised by Red Bull’s pace, which was very competitive.” Important contributions came from upgrades, such as the floor introduced in Florida and the bodywork brought to Imola, but especially the new brake cooling ducts, crucial for managing rear tires. One year later it is McLaren that now has to watch out for Red Bull’s recovery, not vice versa.
McLaren awaits the slow-down
The Miami dominance already feels distant, when McLaren’s advantage was nearly a second per lap. The MCL39 certainly hasn’t lost its edge in two weeks, but several factors have diminished its superiority. “The track layout and Red Bull’s progress are two factors that meant today we didn’t have a particular advantage,” analyzes Andrea Stella. “If you compare cornering speeds with those of Miami, the car works in a completely different regime and in a different aerodynamic map area.”
The MCL39 performs best in low-speed corners, working with more ride height and wide steering angles. No coincidence that Woking’s car dominated the twisty second sector in Miami, also convincing in the tight corners of Bahrain and Shanghai, but struggling on more flowing tracks like Suzuka and Jeddah. “When it comes to high-speed corners, like those at Imola, I don’t think we have a particular advantage,” reflects Stella. The hope is that upcoming upgrades will improve the situation, with the declared goal to “try, if possible, to make it more versatile across a broader spectrum of corner conditions and speeds.” The verdict from Imola doesn’t question McLaren’s technical edge, but to convert it into the most coveted trophy, development must continue.
Ferrari changes pace
On Imola Sunday, Ferrari’s comeback stands out, rewarding the support of the fans in the grandstands. Luck didn’t smile on the Prancing Horse regarding the timing of neutralizations, but this was offset by excellent strategic execution by drivers and team in a tough day. The team showed initiative by calling Leclerc to the pits first to get him out of traffic, but the undercut’s effectiveness exceeded all expectations thanks to an extraordinary exit, contrary to a usually cautious approach in the opening laps with fresh tires.
In the few moments allowing comparison, Ferrari showed race pace close to the leaders’, remarkable considering the tire effort during overtakes. Fred Vasseur, however, points out: “I don’t think we have the best car because even if we are better in the race, we are not faster than McLaren. Probably close, but not fast enough.”
Ferrari confirms the dual nature of the SF-25, strong on tire management but weak in qualifying, a handicap in a Formula 1 where dirty air disturbance has returned to levels similar to 2021. The reason is not simply the aerodynamics developed to perform best at race ride heights. “I can understand that sometimes because of the car’s characteristics there is a tenth gap between qualifying and race, but for us it’s three,” admits Fred Vasseur. “I think we will probably need a different approach for the preparation lap on the soft tires because we can’t extract the peak grip on a flying lap.” This task will be crucial next week in Monaco.
Mercedes collapses
Another team that changes completely from Saturday to Sunday is Mercedes, but in a way diametrically opposite to Ferrari. Antonelli retires due to an accelerator malfunction, but Brackley is mainly worried about George Russell’s lack of pace, putting the team in a very delicate strategic position. In the first stint, the temperature imbalance between front and rear tires was such that the Englishman believed he had a damaged suspension element. The W16 had already struggled in previous races over long distances, but whereas before understeer was the main limit, this time the main difficulties come from managing the rear axle. The team does not rule out the possibility that upgrades contributed to reversing the situation, a question to be answered in the coming days.
Meanwhile, another Mercedes-powered team smiles. Williams confirms points finishes with both cars, thanks to another flawless weekend execution on a very different track from Miami and without any updates on the car. Aston Martin saw many developments but was betrayed by neutralizations, unable to score points. The progress is nevertheless tangible, an important signal also in market terms to try to attract the same Verstappen who at Imola keeps dreaming of a fifth crown.
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