F1 Imola GP: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Under Threat Due to Wild Weather

In the days leading up to Sunday's race in Imola, the weather is forecast to improve, but on Saturday afternoon, a storm is likely to roll in, bringing with it the threat of further rain.

The Italian province of Emilia Romagna is set to host Grand Prix amid heavy rain and flood warnings. Local news outlets have reported that the Imola Regional Weather Service has issued a red-level rain warning, as meteorologists have forecasted about 160mm of rain on Tuesday and 110mm on Wednesday. The weather, however, should improve for this weekend's race, but more rain and a possible storm are expected on Saturday, i.e. during the qualifying session. A representative for the track said that there was no damage to the Imola circuit as a result of the chaos. Mercedes also has plans to bring major upgrades to the W14 in the upcoming race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, including modifications to the sidepod, floor, and front suspension, but if the race is cancelled, it is likely that the updates will be brought in Monaco.

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Will the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix be Cancelled?

Formula 1 Car

F1 has not yet announced its official stance on whether or not to reschedule the Imola Grand Prix. They, too, are waiting for word from Civil Defence, along with the rest of the teams and drivers. Thunder and low temperatures will accompany the heavy rain, and flooding is also a possibility. There is a good likelihood that it will not be a very smooth Grand Prix if the race does happen. In such perilous circumstances, drivers who push to the limit in near-zero vision are most likely to lose control of their vehicles.

Consequently, fans are keeping their fingers crossed for good news from Imola, as they would hate to see such a legendary track lose an F1 race due to bad weather.

F1 Imola GP: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a number of races had to be changed or rescheduled to different dates. The 'one-off' Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is one of several new or returning races added to the calendar to make up for the elimination of existing events.

The 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was supposed to be a one-time event, but it was moved to 18 April 2021 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Early in 2022, a deal was made to keep hosting the Grand Prix until the year 2025.

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Imola's History

While leading the 1994 race at the same circuit, Ayrton Senna, a well-known Brazilian Formula One driver, was killed when his vehicle hit a concrete barrier just one day after Roland Ratzenberger was killed in a similar manner. A turning moment in Formula One safety, Ayrton Senna's death led to new regulations for the sport and the track, as well as the revival of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.