Lewis Hamilton’s Imola experience is all about unexpected challenges.
- The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari has been unfriendly to Ferrari drivers Hamilton and Leclerc.
- Brake issues have been a recurring theme, with Leclerc calling them ‘horrendous.’
- Hamilton experienced a unique brake problem that has been absent all season.
- Qualifying and race strategies are uncertain due to these unpredictable brake issues.
The scenic yet challenging Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola poses a unique set of hurdles for drivers, especially Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc. As they gear up for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, both drivers find themselves grappling with brake issues. Hamilton’s frustration was echoed in his words, ‘These damn brakes, mate,’ during a practice session that turned out to be far from smooth. Leclerc, on his part, described the brake situation as ‘horrendous,’ indicative of the struggles the Ferrari team faces.
Despite these recurring brake troubles, Hamilton pointed out that the problem he encountered at Imola was unlike anything he had faced so far this season. He expressed confusion over how small adjustments could lead to significant brake issues. ‘I’ve literally changed two of the tiniest things… the smallest change we’ve probably done this year, and we had some brake issues that then made a massive difference,’ he remarked. These mysterious brake problems pose a tough challenge for him and his team.
The unpredictability of the brakes has turned planning for the race into a gamble. Hamilton mentioned how the brakes seemed to work like a game of chance, ‘It’s a lottery. We will roll the dice; you put one [brake] on and it works, you put another on and it doesn’t. We’ll see.’ His teammate, Leclerc, remains realistic about their qualifying and race day prospects, focusing on improving their qualifying pace given the difficulty in overtaking on this track.
In the world of high-speed racing, having consistent and reliable brake performance is crucial. Yet, for Ferrari at Imola, this remains an elusive goal. Leclerc acknowledged their current weak point being the qualifying pace, asserting the importance of enhancing this aspect of their performance. Despite acknowledging their strong race pace, he admitted that taking pole position might be out of reach for now.
The unpredictable brake issues at Imola have left Hamilton and the Ferrari team navigating a complex and challenging scenario.
