The 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna GP promises to be a tactical test as much as a pace race, with the narrow confines and high pit loss of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari demanding careful planning laid out in the strategy guide. With Oscar Piastri leading from pole and overtaking notoriously difficult, teams will be locked in strategic battles rather than wheel-to-wheel combat.
Unlike some of the faster and more forgiving modern circuits, Imola continues to challenge drivers and engineers alike with its lack of overtaking opportunities, tight corners, and punishing pit lane delta. As such, any deviation from the optimal strategy must be weighed carefully against the loss of track position.
The introduction of Pirelli’s new C6 compound for this weekend has also added an extra layer of intrigue, with drivers experiencing vastly different behaviours across the available tyre compounds throughout practice and qualifying. As a result, the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP strategy guide will hinge heavily on tyre management and the timing of pit stops.
Strategy options for Emilia Romagna GP 2025
Imola is one of the few remaining “old-school” tracks on the F1 calendar where track position holds premium value. Add to that the circuit’s 28.2-second pit lane loss – the longest of the season – and it’s no surprise that a one-stop strategy has emerged as the optimum approach for Sunday’s race.
According to simulations, the fastest route is a Medium-to-Hard tyre stint, offering a projected seven-second advantage over the next-best option. Crucially, teams will aim to pit between laps 19 and 25 to hit the peak undercut window, where fresh rubber can make all the difference in leapfrogging rivals.
The undercut will be especially effective due to the high tyre degradation at the end of stints. If drivers can time their stop correctly, they could vault cars ahead while avoiding time loss behind slower runners. Just as George Russell did last year, early stops could be key – but with tyre life compromised, balance is everything.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
Pirelli’s new C6 compound debuted in Imola with the aim of spicing up strategies, but its limitations quickly became apparent. With only five laps of race-capable performance, the softs are almost certainly off the table for Sunday. The Medium tyre, by contrast, saw its usability extended by five laps due to lower rear tyre pressures.
Interestingly, the Mediums now outperform the Hards for the opening 22 laps of a stint, increasing their appeal as the race-start tyre. Most teams have chosen to bring one Medium and two Hards, confirming their intent to one-stop. Only Aston Martin opted for a different mix.
Alternative Emilia Romagna GP 2025 strategies
Drivers like Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda, who will start outside the top ten, may consider alternative strategies such as Hard-to-Medium stints – a play that could pay off if a mid-race Safety Car presents itself.
The race is set to unfold under partly cloudy skies with increasing wind gusts up to 35 km/h, a factor that caught out multiple drivers during qualifying. With unpredictability in the air – both figuratively and meteorologically – any deviation from the default Medium-Hard strategy could swing fortunes wildly.
What is the best strategy for the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
The optimal strategy is a one-stop Medium-to-Hard tyre stint, with the pit window opening around Lap 19 and closing by Lap 25.
Why is overtaking so difficult at Imola?
Imola features a narrow layout with only one DRS zone, meaning drivers need at least a 0.71s pace advantage to attempt a successful overtake.
Will the soft tyre be used in the Emilia Romagna GP?
Highly unlikely. The C6 soft tyre degrades too quickly, with only five laps of viable race performance, making it an unfeasible choice on Sunday.
What role will Safety Cars play in strategy?
An early Safety Car could push teams to switch to a two-stop strategy, while a mid-race or late-race caution could heavily benefit drivers starting on the Hard compound.
