The secret star: Does Ricciardo regret his move?

LEWIS HAMILTON: The Formula 1 record man goes on and on. The weekend in Imola didn't start well for Lewis Hamilton. In qualifying, teammate Valtteri Bottas was a bit faster, and at the start of the race the Mercedes star also had to let Max Verstappen in the Red Bull go. On a track where overtaking is actually impossible, Hamilton did exactly the right thing to still achieve victory number 93: When Bottas and Verstappen changed their tires early, the Briton used the free ride for fast laps in a row. That was enough - also because Bottas picked up a piece of debris and then clearly struggled with his Mercedes. Hamilton is almost certain of his seventh world title and thus equaling Michael Schumacher's record; in two weeks in Istanbul he can crown himself on his own.

TOTO WOLFF: The Austrian downplays the importance of records and winning streaks whenever he can. They mean “nothing to him because they are a thing of the past,” he said recently. If you think like that, you won't let up and will create the conditions for ever new successes. But in a quiet moment, the Mercedes motorsport director can look back with pleasure over an alcoholic drink. Seven constructors' world championships in a row is a record, 100 victories since the beginning of 2014 is a frightening number. Wolff recently seemed a little tired of his job; he will no longer be responsible for Mercedes' Formula 1 project forever. But as long as he continues, the competition shouldn't have too high hopes of a change in power.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL: After twelfth place, Sebastian Vettel has rarely been seen in such a good mood as in Imola. The four-time world champion has already come this far, whose 53 Grand Prix victories are only topped by Hamilton and Schumacher. But constant dripping wears away the stone: This year's Ferrari is not a car for top places, the SF1000 also fits the driving style of his teammate Charles Leclerc much better, and after his resignation at the end of the year, Vettel already has his new job at Aston Martin in mind. One race without making any mistakes was enough for him to leave the track completely satisfied. Only his pit crew made a mistake this time. It's also a good feeling when people point to others after the race when analyzing errors.

DANIEL RICCIARDO: The secret star of the last few weeks is Daniel Ricciardo. He was there for the second time in the last three races when one of the normally placed podium trio Hamilton-Bottas-Verstappen opened the door. This time it was a puncture for Verstappen, once Ricciardo's team-mate at Red Bull. The Australian, who is always in a great mood, now has reason to smile again in the cockpit. Maybe he's also a bit worried that he'll be leaving Renault for McLaren after two years. Now that the car is regularly the third force behind Mercedes and Red Bull - especially because of its personality.

Daniel Ricciardo is in fourth place in the world championship standings. Next year he will drive for McLaren. © APA/afp / MIGUEL MEDINA

ALEXANDER ALBON: Alexander Albon is now sitting in the Red Bulls' second cockpit - still, one would have to say. The Thai, who grew up in Great Britain, is increasingly crumbling under the pressure. From the first race of the season he is significantly slower than the mega-talent Verstappen, but since he has been counted publicly, the slight mistakes have increased. Like in Imola, when he lost control of his car in the final phase and retired. Officially he can still use the last four races of the season for self-promotion, but in Nico Hülkenberg and the Mexican Sergio Perez there are two proven quicker (faster) successor candidates.

WEEKEND FORMAT: Two racing days instead of three, only 90 instead of 240 minutes of training time before qualifying: the shortened weekend format tested in Imola was well received by drivers and team bosses. Although this didn't change the pecking order significantly, the crisp form is probably the future. For TV viewers, 180 minutes of training on Friday are not very attractive; the Formula 1 entourage is longing for relief when 23 races are to be held on four continents in the future. But the route operators are looking down the drain: They have to refinance the entry payment to Formula 1 through tickets, but these don't become any more attractive with only two days of track action instead of three.

SAYING OF THE WEEKEND: “It's unbelievable, unbelievable. Wow, seven titles. I can tell my grandchildren that at some point.” (Lewis Hamilton on the next Mercedes victory in the team world championship)

>>>The detailed race report for the Grand Prix in Imola can be found here

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The secret star: Does Ricciardo regret his move?

While record man Lewis Hamilton keeps going, Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo is currently experiencing his second spring. The maturity certificate from the Grand Prix in Imola.

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