According to analyst Peter Windsor, the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the circuit in Imola is a disadvantage for world champion Max Verstappen. The first part of the Formula 1 calendar is dominated by street circuits, and that is even more the case now with the cancellation of the race in northern Italy. Windsor believes Verstappen had clearly been the favorite this weekend, so team-mate Sergio Pérez can count himself lucky from a competitive point of view.
After the Grand Prix of China was canceled earlier in April, the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna has now also been cancelled. In the original Formula 1 calendar, there were five street races in the first eight events, but with the elimination of these two events, we are now in the unique situation of five Grands Prix in a row being held on street circuits. After the traditional track in Bahrain, Formula 1 has entered action in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Azerbaijan and Miami, with the Monaco Grand Prix scheduled for next week. According to Windsor, this is beneficial for Pérez, who achieved his greatest successes on street circuits.
After the Monaco Grand Prix, only two street circuits can be found between the remaining sixteen Grands Prix, namely in Singapore and Las Vegas. Windsor believes that the initial phase of the season is perfect for Pérez. ‘What would Max think now? One less race for me to win? There is no doubt that this was more of a Max circuit than a Checo circuit, so this is more disadvantageous for Verstappen,” Windsor explained in his latest YouTube video. “If these two guys get close in terms of points towards the end of the year – and that’s a big assumption of course – then Max will feel the pain of being absent from the race in Imola.”
Domenicali decisive in quick decision
Unlike the chaos we saw around the races in Australia in 2020 and in Belgium in 2021, Formula 1 took a quick and clear decision this time. “I think the decision was also largely from Stefano Domenicali,” the 71-year-old Windsor suspects. “He grew up in Imola, he’s the head of Liberty Formula 1, and it’s his circuit. If he doesn’t know if it’s possible to hold a Grand Prix here, then no one on this planet knows, so I think the FIA ​​has respected Stefano’s opinion on this. That’s what I assume.’
