After the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and with discuss that the circuit can be dropped from the F1 calendar, we now have collated a choice of photos from Imola over time.
The 4.909km anti-clockwise monitor is a favorite amongst drivers due to its mixture of quick and gradual corners, elevation adjustments and difficult chicanes.
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It made its F1 debut in 1980, staging the Italian Grand Prix whereas Monza was being redeveloped. From 1981, Imola turned the house of the San Marino Grand Prix till 2006, earlier than returning to the calendar because the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 2020.
The tragic occasions of 1994 might be what Imola is most identified for; a weekend when each Austrian Roland Ratzenberger and three-time world champion Ayrton Senna misplaced their lives.
Make a journey again by the highs and lows of Imola…
Verstappen makes an early transfer – 2025
Grid place is essential on the slender Imola circuit and securing pole place can significantly increase your probabilities of a race win. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri began forward of Max Verstappen on the entrance row in 2025 but it surely was the Purple Bull driver who made a daring transfer on the Tamburello chicane on the opening lap to cross the Australian and take management of the grand prix. [PA Media]
Pironi enrages Villeneuve – 1982
In 1982, tensions flared between Ferrari team-mates Gilles Villeneuve (left) and Didier Pironi. Canadian Villeneuve was main Frenchman Pironi, with third-placed Michele Alboreto far behind. Villeneuve anticipated that they might observe Ferrari protocol and stay in that place, however Pironi handed him on the ultimate lap to take the win. Villeneuve vowed by no means to talk to Pironi once more. Nonetheless livid at what he thought-about a betrayal, he died in a crash in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks later. [Getty Images]
Paying tribute to an icon – 2024
On the thirtieth anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s demise in 2024, fellow a number of world champion Sebastian Vettel drove the Brazilian’s race-winning McLaren MP4/8 from 1993 as a part of a tribute run, to the delight of the packed crowds contained in the circuit. [Getty Images]
Senna’s nieces, Lalalli (left) and Bianca (proper) joined Vettel at Imola and the remainder of the paddock for the ‘Perpetually Senna’ tributes, bringing alongside one their uncle’s well-known race helmets. [Getty Images]
The primary F1 World Championship race – 1980
1980 was Imola’s first look as a championship F1 race and it was awarded the honour of internet hosting that yr’s Italian Grand Prix – an occasion gained by Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, driving for Brabham. From 1981 up till 2006, Imola adopted the title ‘San Marino Grand Prix’ as an alternative, internet hosting a complete of 27 grands prix. [Getty Images]
Imola makes its return – 2020
Imola made its return to Components 1 after a 14-year absence throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. With many races cancelled and the schedule disrupted, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was added to the revised calendar as a one-off occasion going down in November. With no followers current, residents within the neighbouring homes bought to see Lewis Hamilton take victory for Mercedes. [Getty Images]
Alonso versus Schumacher – 2005
Fernando Alonso, now 43, drives for Aston Martin nowadays however in 2005, the Spaniard was racing for Renault and battling on the Imola monitor with Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Alonso beat the German to the race win, sealing his third consecutive victory of what could be his first championship season. [Getty Images]
Schumacher retires his Benetton – 1992
Michael Schumacher is the king of Imola, profitable on the historic circuit a document seven occasions throughout his profession. Nonetheless, in 1992, it was a distinct story, because the German suffered his first retirement of the season for Benetton after he spun into the tyre wall when he and team-mate Martin Brundle had been hustling McLaren’s Gerhard Berger on lap 21. [Getty Images]
Imola’s darkest weekend – 1994
On 1 Could 1994, members of the Williams staff, together with the remainder of the world, watched on anxiously as medics tried to save lots of the lifetime of their iconic driver Ayrton Senna. The 34-year-old crashed right into a concrete barrier on the Tamburello nook due to a mechanical failure on his automobile and died a couple of hours later in a hospital in Bologna. His demise got here the day after Simtek’s Roland Ratzenberger had been killed in a crash throughout qualifying. [Getty Images]
Within the aftermath of Senna and Ratzenberger’s deaths 31 years in the past, Imola was given a revamp, with two chicanes added to the circuit to enhance security. The monument at Tamburello has turn into a pilgrimage for followers; an enduring reminder of Senna’s legacy inside Components 1. [Getty Images]
The opposite Schumacher wins – 2001
A Schumacher stood on the highest step of the Imola podium in 2001, but it surely wasn’t Michael who claimed the race victory – it was his brother Ralf. Driving for Williams, the youthful Schumacher beat McLaren’s David Coulthard and Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello to the chequered flag, whereas Michael’s day within the different Scuderia resulted in retirement. [Getty Images]
Well-known nook names – 2025
One of many causes followers love the old-school appeal of Imola is that it is one of many few circuits left on the calendar that has nook names, not simply numbers. In sequence, they’re Tamburello, Villeneuve, Tosa, Piratella, Acque Minerali, Variante Alta and Rivazza. In 2006, Variante Bassa was eliminated and a brand new pit lane and start-finish advanced had been constructed. [Getty Images]
Prost–Senna rivalry – 1989
Senna gained 3 times in Imola and took a document eight pole positions, however his second victory on Italian soil noticed his rivalry with then McLaren team-mate Alain Prost flip bitter. Following a pink flag and delay for a terrifying accident involving Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari on lap 4, Senna overtook Frenchman Prost – who had been main earlier than the accident – midway spherical the primary lap after the restart, apparently reneging on a pre-race settlement. [Getty Images]
