Just one free practice session at Imola: “Stupid” according to Verstappen

The announcement of the condensed format for the Imola weekend (October 31-November 1) did not fail to provoke a reaction from the drivers, generally all enthusiastic about the idea of ​​racing on the former Grand Prix scene. of San Marino. 

From the 2020 field, only Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo) ran there in competition with the F1, whose last visit to Emilia-Romagna dates back to 2006. 

Some like Lance stroll rode there as a promotional formula. 

« The route was already fast in Formula 3, recalls the Canadian from Racing Point. It’s a track that I like and where I have won races. I expect it to be really fun driving an F1 ». 

Others, on the other hand, have never put a wheel on it. This is the case, for example, of Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who plans to go scouting at the wheel of an F3, as the drivers did McLaren at Silverstone before the resumption of the 2020 season. 

« Having only one free practice session will be a very big challenge as I have never been to Imola, points out the Dane. I'm going to have to learn the layout very, very quickly ». 

F1 has confirmed that only one free session will be scheduled for this unprecedented Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Saturday morning between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. It will be followed by qualifying at 14:00 p.m., then the race on Sunday. 

Si Romain Grosjean (Haas) welcomes this novelty with interest and curiosity, this is not the case for everyone. 

« I find the idea stupid, shouted Max Verstappen. If it concerned a track that we know and where we have already driven with modern F1 cars, no problem. Instead of giving us one 1 hour session, schedule two 30 minute sessions and that would have been enough to make sure everything worked. It’s a shame because it’s a great circuit and I can’t wait to go and ride there. ».

 Knowing the adaptability of Formula 1 drivers and teams, we are not too worried about them.