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Summary of Thursday in Imola: Spotlight on Red Bull

Summary of Thursday in Imola: Spotlight on Red Bull

15-04-2021 20:45 Last update: 22:06

GPblog.com

After a few weeks break the drivers are getting ready for the second Grand Prix of the championship. This time, everyone travelled to the famous circuit of Imola to race under the Italian sun. Although, on Thursday it was quite chilly at the circuit, but of course the weather can change. This day was all about the press conferences and there was a lot of reviewing of the previous race.

Focus on Red Bull

The talk of the day was partly about what happened in Bahrain. Max Verstappen managed to pass Lewis Hamilton, but had to give that spot back. This was because Verstappen had ended up off-track, which had given him an advantage. Normally not unusual, but the point was that Hamilton was continuously going off track and when Verstappen started to do the same it was 'suddenly' an issue.

Still, Verstappen looks back and says there are plenty of races to come. He also has faith in his car, so although he sees Bahrain as a missed opportunity, it is not a huge disappointment. Hamilton, however, claims he did not gain any time, contradicting earlier analyst comments. Raikkonen was also asked for his opinion, but he argues that the rules were simply clear.

To take away any uncertainty for the upcoming Grand Prix, the FIA has at least tightened up the regulations a little. This is also to prevent a similar discussion after the race. In completely different news, but also related to Red Bull: on Thursday it was announced that they have extended their cooperation with Tag Heuer. This means that the famous watch brand with logo will be on the car of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez until at least 2024.

Virtual racing in July

Another big news for fans of the sport who like to virtually get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car was the announcement of F1 2021. This racing game, again created by Codemasters, will be released on 16 July for various platforms. As well as offering the familiar content but in the context of this season, it also includes a story mode and more opportunities for newcomers to get in.

Vettel looks back on his blunder

Sebastian Vettel made a rather big mistake for someone with his track record. He drove into the back of Esteban Ocon in Bahrain and while he initially pointed the finger at the Frenchman, he now claims it was his own fault. He did not apologise, but at the press conference the German did say that it was not his intention to make this type of mistake again. He has said this before, however, including when he crashed into the back of Verstappen at Silverstone in 2019. So this incident was not entirely unique, but Vettel will be more careful, he said.

What else was said

Finally, Charles Leclerc expressed Ferrari's ambition: to finish third in the championship. Given Ferrari's considerably better record this year, that is not unrealistic. However, we all know that the competition in midfield is cut-throat, so to achieve that goal everything must go right. A challenge for the Monegasque and, of course, Carlos Sainz! Also facing a challenge is Mercedes. Both Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton say that Red Bull now hold the best cards and that it will be a tougher season than in previous years.

Verstappen, on the other hand, argues that there is still more to gain with the car and in on-track battles, as the weekend in Bahrain was not entirely smooth. He echoes the words of the Mercedes drivers, so when the on-track performance of both cars and drivers improves, the battle will intensify. A good fight ahead, then, that bodes well for the coming races.