Faster than an Aston Martin, more expendable than an Alpine driver, with tricks that he’s hiding from the FIA, and harder to get out of than a Brazilian gravel trap, it’s the F1 Donkey with his unique view on F1 and more. Before each race The F1 Donkey puts the ass in sass and unloads his alternative, slightly unhinged thoughts on F1 including this week’s Bold 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Predictions and opinion.
The F1 Donkey’s Pre Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Thoughts
After the excitement of the Celebrity Grand Prix in Miami, Formula 1 returns to its roots of European races rather than playing one off the new album as they arrive in Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, formerly known as the San Marino Grand Prix. I do prefer the obscurity of the San Marino race title rather than the more geographically correctness of Emilia-Romagna. Who wouldn’t. That hyphen is a pain in the arse. Like always.
As the website’s proper Prix-view points out, Imola is a race where big events happens, not always good. Or it is the home of team mates falling out. Given the McLaren advantage over the other cars, you can see a Norris-Piastri falling out, which might force Oscar Piastri into a second facial expression. Hopefully not for many reasons though. Lando Norris can resume his pout mode.
Talking about forcing things into a second, Alpine have dumped Jack Doohan, who was having what used to be a fairly normal debut season before this current crop of drivers ruined that historically and for the future. They have replaced Jack Doohan with a driver with lots of pesos, I mean pace-o. In fairness Franco Colapinto showed up well last season filling in for Logan Sargeant where he only had to finish more and crash less. He managed the first one for sure, as Logan Sargeant was ordinary, but Colapinto struggled with the second task in the latter half of his cameo. The broken pieces of the Williams cars were enough to put Red Bull off. Which is a bad statement, as their standards of what a second driver has to offer is very, very low recently.
Apparently Christian Horner was in trouble as Red Bull boss too according to rumours. Netflix would be sad, I wouldn’t. In fairness, sacking would be harsh, but given the driver hiring, and the drop in performance when Max Verstappen isn’t being Superman, losing key staff, moaning about other teams cheating because Red Bull aren’t winning and they have muppets driving the second seat, it wouldn’t be completely undeserved.
Since we’re in the mood for sacking, and talking about the Miami Grand Prix, can we please get rid of Danica Patrick. She is the Logan Sargeant and Nicholas Latifi of F1 commentary. Actually she’s worse. She’s the Giovanni Lavaggi and Forti-Ford of F1 commentary. At best, which she never is.
Back to the Miami Grand Prix, if I may, and who are you to argue anyway, you know what you got yourself into. How good were the Lego cars.
Of course watching one video on Facebook means I’m now getting 25 notifications per day from Facebook to watch the same stuff over and over again. But with Lego Formula One cars and European Cricket, that’s fine by me.
It was so enjoyable to hear the drivers laughing so much and enjoying themselves. Especially someone like Lewis Hamilton who sounded like he was having a blast, which is good for someone who takes themselves as seriously as he does. Given how his race turned in Miami, Hamilton may prefer a Lego car to his Ferrari, or perhaps a Lego Man instead of the Ferrari tactics team.
One does wonder with all the usual disappointment and lack of action with Sprint Races, why not drop them for just the two full laps in the Lego cars.
And assign points to the top five cars across the line, then more points are awarded for the team with the fewest Lego bricks missing. The latter opening up cars taking each other out for fun and points. Looking at you Pierre Gasly who seemed to be enjoying breaking the Lego cars a little too much.
The moral of the story is Lego cars in, Sprint Races out.
Talking of in and out, here are the bold predictions for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The NRL Donkey’s Bold 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Predictions
And here they are, in a convenient team by team format, so you can ignore them all at your convenience or peril. Depending on the outcome of our prediction.
McLAREN
A Lando Norris weekend all the way to Q3 when he is trumped by Max Verstappen for pole position and it unravels from there. Oscar Piastri to have a quiet podium kind of race.
RED BULL
Max Verstappen to plonk his Red Bull on pole position and use the narrow confines of Imola to keep the lead and win the race.
FERRARI
Charles Leclerc to end up nearest challenger in the race. Ferrari timing their strategy to perfection for once. For Leclerc only. Lewis Hamilton to receive more bad luck and very few points.
MERCEDES
George Russell to quietly assume fourth place on the grid and over the line. Kimi Antonelli to spin off during Q2. Still scores some points though.
WILLIAMS
Carlos Sainz is due a good race, so why not here.
RACING BULLS
Q3 for Hadjar. Q1 for Lawson.
ALPINE
Franco Crash-a-pinto to live up to the unfair nickname and hit the wall Acque Minerali wall during Practice. He will recover to make Q2 but no points. Pierre Gasly Q3 and DNF.
ASTON MARTIN
Slower than Sauber.
HAAS
A Q2, no points kind of invisible race.
KICK SAUBER
Slightly faster than Aston Martin.
F1 2025 Season Stuff
We’ve worked hard getting ready for the 2025 F1 Season, and this is our best work below.
MIAMI GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
CHINESE GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – DRIVERS
2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – TEAMS
2025 F1 SEASON – THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND AVOID
AI DOES F1 – TURNING CARS INTO ANIMALS
F1 2024 Season Stats
Want to remember what happened last season? Here’s a bunch of our best work to sum up the 2024 F1 Season.
F1 2024 FULL RACE REVIEWS ALL 24 RACES
