By: The prospect of Formula 1 returning to Imola for one of the final rounds of the season is becoming increasingly concrete and, if it comes to fruition, it could carry special significance for Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver, currently leading the World Championship, has made no secret of his desire to race at the Emilia-Romagna circuit during the decisive phase of the campaign.
Antonelli spoke about it during the Italian Media Round organised in the Mercedes hospitality area at Monza and reserved exclusively for FIA-accredited Italian media, including formula1.it. When asked about the possibility of the Imola Grand Prix being held, his answer was immediate.
“I think the last race at Imola would be nice. I don’t know whether the weather in December would be quite as nice!”, Kimi joked, before reflecting on what a possible return of the circuit to the calendar would mean to him.
“I would really like to finish the championship at Imola because it is my home race above all others. I’d like to finish the year at home, but first we will have to see how the situation develops.”
It is a particularly evocative scenario given the championship standings. Antonelli would arrive in the final stages of the season with the chance to fight for the World Championship, and a race at Imola could therefore become much more than simply a home event.
There would also be a kind of ideal link with what is happening at Monza. In the Italian Grand Prix, Antonelli will be forced to start from the back of the grid because of the penalty related to the replacement of certain power unit components. A possible return to Imola would therefore offer him a second chance to race in front of the Italian public without starting with such a significant handicap.
“If the return to Imola were to happen, it would be a good way to make amends for this race,” Antonelli explained, while not considering the Monza weekend already compromised.
“Then again, you never know with this race either: just because I’m starting last, it doesn’t mean we can’t have a great race.”
