Elbon: The determining factor in Imola will be the weather

The Williams team is preparing for Imola with the weather one of the major factors that will influence the development of events this weekend.

Dave Robson, chief race engineer: “We are returning to Europe, where a series of three stages in a row will begin with the race in Imola. In addition, a new format for working with tires will be tested this weekend. It’s called Alternative Tire Allocation and will be repeated this year at the Hungaroring, with each team getting just 11 slick sets for the entire weekend.

These 11 sets consist of three of the softest Pirelli tire compounds. Also this weekend we get new rain tires that do not need to be warmed up in thermal covers. Given the weather forecast, they can come in handy.

As the team will have fewer sets of tires available, we decided not to bring any significant technical innovations to Imola, but to focus on adapting to innovations, working with rain tires and overcoming the difficulties associated with tires with the softest connections.”

Alex Albon: “Imola has an interesting qualifying format, so I foresee the teams using different tactics on Friday and Saturday. Overall, in my opinion, the determining factor this weekend will be the weather.

Imola is a great circuit, one of my favorites on the Formula 1 calendar. In any case, you have to take into account the randomness and unpredictability, so we’ll see how it affects the course of events.”

Logan Sargent: “I am happy that the European leg of the season will start in Imola. It looks like it’s going to be a tough weekend weather-wise, but I’m interested in getting my first experience driving a Formula 1 car on a wet track.

The format of qualifying will change and this should affect the usual picture, so we could get some good chances this weekend. Imola is a historic circuit and I have always enjoyed racing there. I hope we have an interesting race.”