Imola GP Weather Forecast: Could the Rain Make a Surprise Appearance at Apparent Drama-Free Debut 2022 F1 Sprint?

Formula 1 fans love the rain and there is a compelling reason for that. The wet conditions throw a unique challenge altogether at the drivers and the teams. The unpredictable nature of the track means the fans have a chance to witness incredible action and drama. And yesterday’s qualifying session in Imola GP proved to be just that.

As we move to the first sprint race of the 2022 season on Saturday, the fans are anticipating another rain-filled day. Unfortunately, the rain gods have opted for blue skies on Saturday, according to reports.

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The FP1 session earlier on Friday also witnessed a wet track as the drivers struggled for grip. Leclerc had his share of moments on the wet track where he spun, as did the likes of Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, and Kevin Magnussen. Moreover, the qualifying session saw several red flag incidents because of the wet conditions.

Blue Skies predicted for Saturday’s sprint race

The sprint will take place after the Free Practice 2 session. The teams can expect the track to be dry for the 100 KM race. According to reports, the temperature is forecasted to be around 21 degrees and the chance for rain is just 5 percent.

This will certainly delight the Red Bull camp as Max Verstappen starts on pole after an impressive lap set during yesterday’s qualifying. Following him is Charles Leclerc, who has started the season in a blistering fashion. The front row battle between the two will be gripping without a doubt.

This season’s sprint race also sees minor tweaks to the points system. Points will be awarded to the top eight drivers, where the driver in P1 will get 8 points, the one in P2 will get 7, and so on. So, the teams have more to play for on Saturday as they will look to gather important points.

Rain also played a huge part during last year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Verstappen leapfrogged Lewis Hamilton to win the Grand Prix. And the Dutchman will hope to achieve the same this week.

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The fans will also remember the 2021 Imola race for the crash between current Mercedes driver George Russell and former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. It heated the things between Bottas, who was aiming to keep his seat while Russell was ready to snatch the seat away from the Finn.

With the weather expected to be dry for Saturday’s sprint race, will Max Verstappen grab P1 today? Leave your predictions in the comments.