F1’s Operation Ditch DRS will have to wait for now

Wolff wants to 'protect' Hamilton after Imola 'low'

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Magnussen continues to lead the way for Haas

Alpine want Piastri’s future decided by summer

Russell shines, Hamilton struggles at Imola

Tsunoda brings home precious points for AlphaTauri

Another missed opportunity for Alonso and Alpine

Mercedes need to find a solution for their porpoising

Finally signs of life at Aston Martin

If there is one circuit on the Formula 1 calendar that proves it is perfectly possible to have a great race without an abundance of overtaking, it is surely dear old Imola.

It was at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after all, where those memorable battles between Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso took place in consecutive years in 2005 and 2006.

Having contained the seven-time World Champion all the way to the finish line in ’05, it was Fernando – in the blue and yellow Renault – in hot pursuit the following season only for Michael to stand firm in the Ferrari.

Not once, on either occasion, did a pass for the lead occur in front of the tifosi – but it did not matter. This, as two of the greatest drivers in history twice went eye to eye, was F1 at its glorious, gladiatorial best.

The thrill? That was very much in the chase.

It was as though F1 had stepped back in time in Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, in which the DRS overtaking aid was disabled for more than half of the 63-lap race.

As is standard procedure, the device was rendered off limits in the wet at the start of the race, but even though every driver in the field had switched from intermediate to slick tyres on the drying track within 20 laps it was not until lap 35 that Race Control