Why the 2024 Imola Grand Prix will "shape the rest of the season"
F1 News
1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill believes that this weekend in Imola will "shape the rest of the 2024 season", with Norris' victory in Miami not guaranteeing that they can fight the Red Bulls for the remainder of the season.
Speaking to F1 Nation podcast, Hill says that the pace of the Red Bull won't disappear and that the rest of the grid will still have to beat reigning word-champion Max Verstappen, despite Lando Norris' maiden win at the Miami Grand Prix.
“Well, it's great that they have made progress, and the pace was there in Miami. So, the race pace was there. Now, we have a slight caveat to this, which is that certainly it seems, this season at least, that if you are in traffic, if you have any kind of disturbance on your car, then your tires seem to suffer. So, being out front is a big bonus. Safety car factor also to throw in there.
"So, on pure pace, where did Lando qualify? Was it fifth? Was it on the grid? So, the sheer pace of the Red Bull is still there, and I don't expect that to disappear overnight. I think there's still probably more work to do. I mean, let's be honest, if they've made progress enough to be as quick as Red Bull, then that's terrific. They still have to beat Max Verstappen.”
Why will the race in Imola shape the rest of the season?
Hill continued on to say how important the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be for the rest of the season: “Well, we're gonna have to wait till first practice on Friday to find out. And I actually feel that this weekend is gonna shape the rest of the 2024 season, because Red Bull are bringing new bits, Ferrari are bringing new bits, which they've already tested at Fiorano last week. McLaren, of course, have got their new bits, and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren is gonna have the full upgrade package on his car.
"So how it plays out this weekend, I think is gonna give us a lot of clues as to how the rest of the season is gonna play.”
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