Formula 1 'insane' race at Mugello may be announced on Monday
Rumors suggesting the announcement of a Formula 1 race at Mugello coming on Monday generated massive smiles all around the paddock. I'm particular on some Aussie's mouth.
It's been on everyone's mouth lately: Formula 1 may attend for the first time ever a Gran Prix at the spectacular Mugello circuit. In the last weeks there were three major track names competing to host an F1 european season's extention: Imola, Portimao and Mugello. While the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari seems to have been put aside, the other italian track is said to be very close to an officialization.
How close? Paddock rumors want its announcement coming already on Monday, within a second part of the 2020 calendar.
The fast sweeping layout would for sure provide both the drivers and the machineries with quite a challenge. Tyres, for example, would probably overheat during the lap, making the final corners very tricky for the drivers. Fewer grip also means a shorter life-span for the rubber, possibly meaning a wide strategy variation among the teams. Drivers' neck would also be put under massive effort, as Mark Webber recently underlined. It's well known how long corners stress the neck's muscles more than a quick kink. The drivers would therefore face a new benchmark of physical challenge.
Portimao would be another peculiar and fun track as well, with long corners and impressive elevation changes.
Both the circuits are well known challenges for Daniel Ricciardo. The australian driver would love to race in either of the tracks, having sweet memories from his Junior Formulas' days: “The first circuit I heard was Mugello, and that was a circuit I raced back in 2007 for the first time, and it was my favourite circuit that season. I loved just the flowing, high-speed corners, and I think in F1 it would be amazing."
It won't actually be the first time Formula 1 cars hit the Tuscany's tarmac, as Ricciardo rightly recalls: “We had a test there, I think it was back in 2012, in F1, but the cars now, these 2020 cars around there would be insane.”
A Portuguese GP at Portimao, the Honey Badger told GPFans, would be a great alternative as well: “I’ve driven Portimão as well. I actually have good memories in Portimão. It was where I wrapped up the F3 championship, and it was a circuit I really enjoyed. There’s some good elevation, and quite good flowing fast corners, so I’m not disappointed if any of these go ahead at all. I would be very excited."
🤩 ONE WEEK UNTIL LIGHTS OUT 🤩
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) June 27, 2020
Will anyone have as quick reactions as @Charles_Leclerc did in 2017? 🤯#F2 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/HHvIx8Eenk
