Formula 1 between misery and celebration

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On Wednesday at 3.20 pm it was official: GP Imola cancelled. Formula 1 had no choice in the rainy hell of the entire Emilia-Romagna region. First balance: 25 dead, 36,500 people had to leave their homes. For some teams, the red flag was a development disaster – they wanted to turn the traffic light green for the 6th World Cup round. Mercedes, Alfa-Sauber and Alpha Tauri-Honda in particular wanted to usher in a better future with their updates. Because next week in Monte Carlo, only one thing counts: big wings to generate the most downforce in the chaos of the crash barriers. So teams now have to hope for Barcelona on June 4. Until then, for example, the drivers’ association (boss Russell) could start a fundraising campaign for Imola and the surrounding area (where it rained again on Saturday). Because so far only Ferrari and the Formula 1 bosses have expressed a million euros for immediate measures. Comforting words are kind, money is more useful. Hamilton: “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. And I thank the wonderful rescuers.” So open your wallet too!

Tsunoda helps sweep up the mud

Faenza (only 15 km from Imola) was also badly hit. There, too, the Alpha Tauri factory was flooded, employees lost friends. GP rider Tsunoda saw the mud wipe away there. He only found his teammate De Vries with the help of strangers from the disaster area. When he wanted to check into the hotel, all the rooms were occupied – for the evacuees nearby. After the misery, the circus is now on its way to the party land of the super rich in Monte Carlo. The difference couldn’t be greater.

Excitement like 2022?

A year ago, Pérez won the pit stop thriller between Red Bull and Ferrari. Sainz (1.1 seconds behind), Verstappen (1.4) and Leclerc (2.9). It couldn’t be more exciting. For Bottas there was a ninth place and two points between Hamilton and Vettel. At that time, the Alfa Sauber team was still over the moon. And now?

First cancellation since Melbourne 2020

Imola was the first cancellation since 1950 due to a natural disaster. In Belgium 1985, qualifying was already over when the drivers wanted to boycott the race – because of the cracked asphalt. The GP was rescheduled 105 days later. In Melbourne 2020, all cars were ready on Friday. A positive corona case has become known at McLaren. The organizer canceled the event despite team protests!

Memories of Niki and Didi

There are dates in Formula 1 that remain unforgettable. One of them is May 20, 2019. At the time, three-time world champion and Mercedes commissioner Niki Lauda left us in Zurich at the age of 70. After total organ failure. Red Bull founder Didi Mateschitz would have turned 75 on the same day. The Styrian died on October 22, 2022 after a long illness.

Source : Blick