Imola to run a condensed race format
Formula One drivers will need to adapt quickly to the Imola track at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after the sport announced that only one practice session will be held ahead of qualifying.
Formula One has recently revealed that it has added Italy’s famous Imola circuit to its heavily-updated 2020 calendar. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will take place on November 1st, just a week after the inaugural Portuguese Grand Prix, staged at Portimao on October 25th.
The round at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino will be the third race of the year in Italy, following the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello - both being held in September.
When the third Italian round was announced, the organisers confirmed that the event would take place as a two-day weekend that eases the logistical challenges for the teams to make the trip from Portimao to Imola. A two-day format has long been in the air and Formula One can now assess how that schedule work.
The organisers have now confirmed the details of the race schedule. Drivers will only have one 90-minute practice session that will start at 10am local time before the qualifying session kicks off at 2pm local time, an hour earlier than normally. The race start will also be brought forward with the grand prix set to kick off at 13:10.
