Between unknowns and pilots' concern about the rain at Imola

The subject of rain had to be broached one day, while the F1 continues to discover the 2022 single-seaters again and again. This is now the central news at the start of the weekend at Imola, while the rain has been falling on the circuit continuously since the start of the day. A big unknown for all drivers, as the only free practice session of the Grand Prix is ​​fast approaching.

“It could create disorder among the drivers and teams”

These new single-seaters have never tasted rain until now. And what was a great unknown until this morning, could very soon no longer be unknown in the paddock. By necessity, it had to take place during a race weekend which only included one free practice session, before the first sprint race of the year, on Saturday.

“The free trials will be really important to learn a little more about this subject, Explain Charles Leclerc at a press conference. There are a lot of unknowns, it will be much clearer after the session. This will obviously be a key session for the rest of the weekend. »

But this first – and only, in terms of settings – free practice session hangs somewhat on a thread, while the F2 have, at this stage, still not been able to follow in the footsteps of F3 on track this Friday morning. The idea of ​​being able to take to the track from qualifying this afternoon without having done any driving has apparently crossed the mind of Fernando Alonso, who is waiting to see if the session can still be held: “If this is not possible, it could create disorder among the drivers and the teams. »

READ ALSO: Charles Leclerc delighted with Carlos Sainz's extension at Ferrari

That's the case to say. Especially since these new single-seaters still hold many surprises. Set-ups are always an important moment during a race weekend, and they can prove to be real headaches for any team. “These cars are not easy to tune,” confesses the pilot McLaren, Lando Norris, experiencing difficulties with his car since the start of the season. Everyone agrees that the most important day of the weekend is the one we are about to experience.

“I came to Italy for the sun, but I don’t know what happened (laughs), quips Max Verstappen. It's really wet today, we've never driven in the rain with these cars so it'll be really interesting to see how it goes in free practice, and of course qualifying. We have to see what the rain allows us to do, it will be a very important day. »

“It will be a good opportunity to know how the car behaves, the tires too, and what compromises do we have to make, Explain Carlos Sainz. In the past we barely changed set-ups between dry and wet, but at the moment we have no idea. »

This is the whole point of this day in Imola, under the theme of rain. Finally have an idea.