The 2022 Formula 1 season promised strong emotions with the new technical regulations, which made it possible for teams to match forces because nobody knew what would work.
However, two teams have taken complete control of the grid after just three rounds. Ferrari and Red Bull have been postulated as the top candidates to fight for the world titles of drivers and constructors, and it seems very difficult for another to sneak into the battle after seeing how this beginning of the course has developed.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be a turning point for the Italians and Austrians, as it is the first test on European soil after the tour of the Middle East and Australia, where the characteristics of the two single-seaters have been seen.
The F1-75 that has come out of Maranello is a versatile car, capable of going fast on all kinds of tracks, both on the long straights of Bahrain and on the fast linked ones of Jeddah, while the RB18 is better suited to tracks where going full throttle is the key, thanks in part to the Honda engine.
This could be seen in Saudi Arabia, where it is no coincidence that the energy drinkers were in the lead with Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen, as Ferrari suffered when they had to face the main straight.
However, those in red take advantage of acceleration and low speed corners, something that is vital at Imola. On this mythical track there is only one large straight section, just where the only DRS zone is activated, between turn 19 and turn 2, although everything is done without letting go of the gas.
Each car is set to a different section of the circuit, with Ferrari having an advantage on the twisty parts while Red Bull shaves off time on the straights, but there seem to be a few more factors to consider.
The famous porpoising will be present at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, since the teams will not introduce major updates to alleviate the problems of rebound at high speed.
Ferrari was testing a new background in free practice in Australia, which they will not introduce in Imola because the simulations have revealed that it is better not to touch what already works, in addition to the fact that the world leader, Charles Leclerc, has managed to solve it himself himself this mishap when he pilots.
Red Bull, for its part, is capable of generating more downforce with the ground, and it is a team that has not suffered as much from porpoising as Mercedes has. Thus, the combination of these will be key to deciding the winner of the fourth round of the year.
Continuing with the aerodynamics, the fast Imola lanes will raise doubts about the configuration they will adopt, even more so when they will only have a single one-hour free practice session to accommodate their cars, since this weekend the sprint format returns.
From what has been seen so far, Ferrari has the edge when visiting tracks where high load is necessary, making up a bit for what they lack to catch up with Honda on the power unit. That is why the Italian layout is better suited to their needs, but the engine here also seems to benefit them.
At the start of 2022, the Maranello’s engine has worked best at low revs, allowing incredible traction and corner exit, suggesting that Red Bull will struggle against them at most of Imola.
The key will be that, if the Austrians manage to make up for the DRS loss in qualifying, they can become relentless from the top, blocking any overtaking attempts by Leclerc or Sainz.
However, they can put their hypothetical places in the lead at risk if the strategy is not adequate. This track is not one that stands out for degradation, but if Ferrari throws an undercut at the right time, they can see Red Bull lose the lead.
For this, those from Milton Keynes should have achieved pole position and victory in the sprint race, but their tires, as seen in Melbourne, suffer more graining at the rear, and seeing that it is a track with traction, they can be weighed down for this reason.
The margin is very small, and the two teams have at their disposal cars and drivers fast enough to win at Imola, but everything will decide on Sunday. We will have to pay attention to the sky from Friday, as some rain is expected to fall in qualifying, and if the plan goes wrong from the start, they will have to go against the tide during the weekend.
The first sector could benefit Red Bull, with a long straight and a strong braking point, followed by two chicanes, although the rest is Ferrari territory, with downforce turns and where engine power is needed. The duel is served.
