The FIA shares track limits along with DRS, circuit changes in F1 Emilia Romagna GP, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton reflect on home race.
The track limits remain white lines as per the FIA Race Directors’ note for F1 Emilia Romagna GP at Imola. Moving on to the sole DRS zone, it is same as last year, with detection zone being 385m before Turn 17 and activation being 40m after Turn 19.
There’s whole list of circuit changes, which goes by:
- Turn 4 apex: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the kerb.
- Turn 4 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 6 apex: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 6 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 7 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the grass.
- Turn 9 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 11 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the back of the kerb.
- Turn 12 apex: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the back of the kerb.
- Turn 12 exit/ Turn 13 apex: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 14 apex: realign white line and the bollard behind the kerb.
- Turn 15 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 17 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 18 exit: realign white line and blue line at the back, 1,5m from the gravel.
- Turn 19 apex: realign white line to 1,5 meters from the wall.
In terms of the FIA stewards panel for F1 Emilia Romagna GP, it will be led by Nish Shetty and he will have the able support of Loic Bacquelaine, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Valerio Brizzolari. Outside the race director’s note, Alpine confirmed Dave Greenwood to take team representative role.
“Alpine confirms that Dave Greenwood (Racing Director) has been assigned as team representative for administrative purposes with all relevant stakeholders,” the statement said. “Whereas Flavio Briatore is fully in charge of the team, including duties previously held by Oliver Oakes.”
The Emilia Romagna GP weekend will also see a home event for Mercedes’ Antonelli, who is excited for the weekend. The Italian will have his family with him and he has brought along his friends and even classmate to give some insights on how F1 works – like a school trip.
“This weekend is going to be emotionally and mentally draining — home race in front of the Italian fans, and as I said, my family and friends will be attending,” said Antonelli. “So it’s going to be really important to manage the energy, especially in those moments where I can, and not waste energy on things that are not useful. It’s going to be important to stay on top of that because it’s really easy to hit the bottom of the pack before the end of the weekend.
“Already a normal weekend is very tiring and draining, so this is like double. Of course I’m going to try to protect myself. The fact that I’ve got really good people around me really helps. We’re all aligned that this weekend is going to be tough. We’re preparing and I think we’re quite well prepared. At the end of the day, it’s another race weekend, but because of the circumstances it’s going to be different.
“At the same time, it’s going to be really exciting. I think the energy is going to be amazing and that can be used to do even better on track. Really looking forward to see how we go this weekend. I organised this [bringing my classmates] — thanks also to some people at Mercedes. Rosa [Herrera Venegas], who’s in the room as well, helped. We were able to organise this for the school.
“I think it’s a good way for them to see with their own eyes this world. They used to watch the races on TV, but didn’t actually know what’s going on behind it. I think it’s a really good experience and I really hope they enjoy it. We’ve organised some activities — later on I’ll show them the car and explain a bit, without going too much into detail.
“It’s a good way to keep the relationship because I don’t spend much time at home, so I don’t see them often. These little things can make the difference. About the race — yeah, I would love for it to stay on the calendar. It’s such a unique track. As I said before, it’s technical, it not easy, especially over one lap, to put everything together. It’s old school, quite bumpy.
“All things that make it special. The history of this track is incredible. Definitely I would love if there were the chance for the track to stay on the calendar next year and for the next few years of course. I mean it does feel surreal, definitely. It took me a little bit to realise this moment — that for the first time, I will be racing in F1 at my home race. At the same time, it’s super exciting.
“As I said, the energy is going to be incredible, especially to see so many Italian fans. At the end of the session I’ll have a proper look around and probably give a little wave to everyone because it’s so important to have such support. It can really help and motivate you to go on track and do even better. I could already feel, from the beginning of the year, so much support from Italians.
“It’s just growing even more. I’m super happy about that. I definitely couldn’t have asked for more. I think it would be really good to do a strong result also for all of them — for everyone coming to the weekend and taking time out of their day to attend the race. It would be a good thing to do a strong weekend — for myself, for the team, but also for them,” summed up Antonelli, who also got to read the message from Ferrari’s Hamilton at the motorhome.
Last year, Hamilton noted that he wrote a message for Antonelli in his room in the motorhome. Since the flyaway races don’t have motorhomes, the Italian only got the first chance read the message at Imola, which is the first race of the European leg of 2025 F1 season.
“I think — you know, maybe you guys cannot see — but I think it says a lot about how Lewis is as a person. I could see a lot of the human side of Lewis, not only the driver,” said Antonelli. “Reading the message, it fulfilled my heart to receive such a message from such a figure in the sport. He has done so much and he’s still right there giving his best. He’s one of the best in history.
“To receive such a message is amazing. It also contained some advice, and I use it as motivation as well to go out there and do my best — because it doesn’t happen every day. It’s actually on my wall. I’ll keep it there. The message is so nice that I just want to leave it there. Every time I enter the room, I can see it. It’s a really good reminder.
On the other side, it is the first home event for Hamilton too since joining Ferrari and first chance for the Brit to see the team’s trucks and also its motorhome. He hasn’t prepared any differently, though. “I haven’t prepared any differently,” he said to media. “I’ve prepared the same. I was at the factory for two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday. I don’t know what to expect.
“Obviously, I’ve been here all these years. I’ve seen the Tifosi. I’ve been on stage just after the Ferrari drivers. We’ve seen all these different places we’ve been going. The amazing support. Even just at the factory, when you’re walking around the factory, there’s people at the gate every day. It’s pretty incredible, the support this team has.
“And there’s just a lot of high hope and a lot of expectation. But that comes with greatness. You’ve got a great team. That’s what people expect. But I don’t approach it any differently. I want to get good points. Naturally, I want to get good points every weekend. But I’m definitely excited to see more red. I mean, there’s a lot when you are inside the team that you didn’t know about those things, I’ll not elaborate on that.
“Everything is kind of like a new experience. It is the first time that I have been to one of the European races and seen the motorhomes. I got here this morning and didn’t know where I was going, had to get someone to show me round. I have seen these hospitality trucks since I started in F1 in 2007 and I’ve walked past them and never been inside and if I’m perfectly honest I’ve been scared to set foot inside as I was from another team. I never went past the first step.
“Today is the first time I’ve been inside this building and I guess it’s another realisation that I’m here. It is another realisation. And also it’s just that you know that Italians are passionate and that there is passion around Ferrari. But it’s a lot more than you expect when you are actually in it and it is beautiful,” summed up Hamilton, who was the lone representative of Ferrari on Thursday.
Teammate Charles Leclerc did not make it to the circuit and attend the media session after taking ill. Ferrari has Antonio Giovinazzi on standby, but they expect the Monegasque to be fit to start the FP1 session on Friday. “Charles is feeling unwell and will not be coming to the track today. He will rest and focus on recovering and we expect him to be in the car tomorrow,” the note said.
Here’s full FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_emilia_romagna_grand_prix_-_race_directors_event_notes_.pdf
Here’s Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari motorhome: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJrePQBtOiX/
Here’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli checking the message: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJrwbJgtn3m/
School trip: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJr6oOFNfNs/
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