The Imola race on the 2021 Formula 1 schedule has been renamed to the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna by the Italian government.
After returning to the track for the first time since 2006 last year thanks to multiple other tracks being wiped off the calendar due to coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions, Formula 1 is set to return to Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari again in 2021.
The 21-turn, 3.05-mile (4.908-kilometer) road course in Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy is slated to host the 23-race season’s second race on Sunday, April 18.
Last year, the race was named the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Of course, it could not be called the Italian Grand Prix since Autodromo Nazionale di Monza still hosted its annual event, so that name in itself was a bit unique, relative to the rest of the 2021 schedule.
This year, however, the 63-lap race is slated to be called something entirely different and something completely bizarre.
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The Italian government has confirmed that this race has been named the “Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna”. That literally translates to the “Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix” in English.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who is still without a contract for next year, won this race last year in what was the first start at the track for everybody in the field except for Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas finished in second place ahead of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo in third.
The highest finishing “Made in Italy” machine was the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat in a season-high fourth place. Charles Leclerc piloted his “Made in Italy” Ferrari to fifth.
After pandemic-related restrictions forced the original 2021 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, to be postponed from Sunday, March 21 to Sunday, November 21, the Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to open up the season on Sunday, March 28 at Bahrain International Circuit.