The San Marino Grand Prix marks the start of the European season, for a stage of the Championship where mistakes can cost the teams dear. Atlas F1's technical writer Craig Scarborough serves the most comprehensive and complete Grand Prix Preview - including a look at the circuit layout, the demands from the drivers and the teams, and a full analysis of all participants in the upcoming event

The F1 circus moves back to its spiritual home of Europe and to the cooler and more technical tracks. The teams will be able at last to base themselves from their transporters and be within reasonable reach of the factory.

The race traditionally marks the start of the European season. The San Marino GP is not in fact held in the tiny principality, but in nearby Imola on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, named initially after Enzo's late son, and also after the man himself following his death in 1988.

This circuit lies in the heart of the Italian motorsport region. Ferrari, Minardi and major suppliers such as Fondmetal and Cevolini (who produce the Ferrari and Minardi gearbox casting) are all based close by. But the local fans only have eyes for one team: Ferrari. These passionate tifosi had a run of good Ferrari results to cheer for in the past and have been known to "boo" Italian drivers in favour of a foreigner in one of the scarlet cars.

Following the three flyaway races at the start of the season, Imola is a natural place for teams and drivers to assess the true position on the grid, and it also marks the start of the testing season. Having had two months since the season's start, the designers have been able to develop new parts to improve the cars, and the run of European races all take place on tighter, higher downforce circuits which require a different set-up on the cars than the previous races. This makes the San Marino race technically significant, as the teams bring along new aero and mechanical solutions.

Don't expect a major upset in the form book this weekend, however, as the teams should all stay in their relative positions from the previous races. Battles between closely matched teams will be the focus, but none will be more closely monitored than the one between Williams and Ferrari. There have been close qualifying shoot outs, startline chases, and race finishes between the two teams at every race without exception so far, and Imola will suit both cars equally.

Moreover, the personal rivalry between Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya will be rekindled, with Montoya releasing a threatening statement: "If Michael is allowed to race the way we saw in Brazil, then I will race in the same way from now on." If the clashes continue, the stewards' option to penalise a driver by demoting him 10 grid positions in the following race may affect the forthcoming race in Austria.

Set up and Layout

Imola can be summarised as a power circuit, with the emphasis on acceleration, aerodynamics and brakes - all of these factors will also be a source of unreliability for the teams in the race.

The Autodromo is a challenging and varied track, with combination of fast-flowing straights and tight chicanes and a lot of different cambers and gradients on the road. Even the quality of the track surface varies around a lap. Despite this variation, it is a circuit where the driver can get into a rhythm and improve his laptimes.

The super-fast curves after the startline demand superior power, aerodynamics and a mechanical set-up. Some of the tighter corners are preceded by heavy braking areas and immediately followed by a steep uphill straight, which places heavy load on the brakes and the transmission, but these are areas where time and places in the race can be made up. The downforce level will be a little higher here, and a new wing layout can be expected from the teams.

This is the first F1 race run at Imola with traction control since 1992, and the teams will be spending Friday setting the car and its electronics up. As the circuit is quite technical, teams can end up spending all weekend finding a good set-up and only finding a major gain in the warm-up before the race, thus adding an element of unpredictability to the race.

The low grip surface doesn't usually give new tyres a great advantage, so softer compounds are run, high fuel consumption on the long straights is offset against the slower sections, hence strategy is usually a straightforward two stopper, with some teams - and most likely the Michelin runners - opting for different strategies, depending on the effect of traction control and new tyre constructions for this race.

Weather is expected to be cool and on paper this plays into the hands of the Bridgestone runners. Rain can be expected but this can be predicted quite well due to the European climate and geography of the region. Variations in the track surface can also catch out drivers in the wet, especially into the hard braking areas.

Tyres

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams appear to be able to run on the pace regardless of the weather, as proven in Brazil. It is the other Bridgestone teams that should expect a better performance over the Michelin runners.

The Michelin runners will fair worse, especially in rain or mixed conditions, as the common belief is Bridgestone have the better treaded tyres. Tyre wear is less of an issue here and heat build up in the Michelins - when new - will be less of an issue, so most Michelin runners will feel they do not have to scrub their tyres in as much as usual.

Team by Team

Ferrari

After the Brazilian press got upset about Rubens Barrichello running in the older car in Sao Paolo, Ferrari will now bring three F2002s for both drivers to this race. An intensive week of testing at the nearby tracks of Mugello and Fiorano will no doubt benefit the team, being on similar circuits in the same weather conditions as in Imola.

Predictably, the testing was on set-up and tyres in preparation for the race, and tyre testing usefully included wet weather running. Testing was interrupted by some reliability problems and this must be on both drivers' minds, as Michael Schumacher has an eye on retaining the Drivers' Championship lead, and Barrichello is still looking for a race finish.

Performance wise, the circuit is well suited to the Ferrari and Barrichello has made encouraging comments on the new engine's power output.

Williams

Testing at Valencia was productive for the Williams team, concentrating on longer runs to test tyres and reliability. Brakes were also the focus, as the team have worked hard on their brake set-up throughout this season, and it is still seen as one of the team's weak points.

One of their stronger points - and one that has got them into trouble at every race - has been their launch control. This system has been further refined and the team must hope for a race without a startline incident to further consolidate their lead in the Constructors' Championship. This would also allow the fans the chance to see the two Williams drivers have a direct head to head in race conditions, as the jury is still out on which driver if any has a speed advantage.

McLaren

The team are getting a name for leading the testing times and the major Valencia test was no exception. Kimi Raikkonen topped the timesheets and McLaren have produced quick out-of-the-box times in the Friday sessions at the past two Grands Prix. However, they then seem to slide back down the grid as the weekend progresses, as the drivers struggle to maintain the chassis' balance.

The Valencia test allowed the team to work on tyres and the chassis set-up issue. But they need to produce a fast and reliable performance in order to keep up with Ferrari and Williams.

Renault

Renault's confidence continues to rise, and this could be a circuit that suits the effective Renault chassis more than the opening races. The car's handling and balance is one of the best on grid, and after tyre, reliability and gearbox testing in Valencia the team feel they have made another step forward. But whether the new, more powerful engine specification - tried successfully in testing - is run over the weekend is yet to be confirmed.

While Jarno Trulli has had several troubled races he looks forward to one of his home Grands Prix and the previously troubled relationship between the team and Jenson Button seems to have been forgotten, as he has turned in some drives, similar to what he was recognised for back in 2000.

Sauber

Going into San Marino, Sauber have disappointed so far this season. Although clearly the leading Bridgestone runner behind Ferrari, the team have been unable to find the speed from the tyres. The cooler European climate and tighter track should suit them better and allow them to race closer to the front and perhaps equal with Renault.

Aerodynamics and mechanical set-up were on the programme at the rain-interrupted test in Valencia, along with the necessary tyre testing. Both Sauber drivers have proved to be equally matched and capable of mature drives.

Jordan

Frustration seems to be settling in at Jordan. The car runs well but lacks pace and the Honda engine is proving to be a disappointment. The recent testing focussed on the electronics systems and brakes, with some running of a promising new Honda engine specification, which is believed to be ready for Imola.

The team also ran a narrow mid-wing mounted behind the roll over structure in testing, highlighting the extra downforce required for Imola and the European races in general.

Jordan would be a happy with a reliable run into or near the points for both drivers, but it is hard to predict the competitiveness of the team this weekend.

BAR

Back to basics is the watchword at BAR after chronic unreliability in the opening races, and as a result of the team's rebuilding.

The three day test in Spain largely focussed on reliability testing, especially on the new 2002 seven-speed gearbox. Now running the technical side of the team, Geoff Willis explains: "we have to ensure we are in a position over the next few races to operate the car to its current full potential."

Olivier Panis was present at the test and was encouraged by the new Honda engine specification. "We have made a small step forward since Brazil," he said. Jacques Villeneuve has been approving of the changes to the team since David Richards replaced his ousted friend Craig Pollock, so this should improve Villeneuve's motivation, which has been questioned this year.

Jaguar

Jaguar Racing suffered from a lack of running due to the poor weather at the Valencia test, and the team were focussing on improving the R3 chassis while the new windtunnel takes time to improve the car's aerodynamics. Test team boss Guenther Steiner felt improvements had been made but was not so sure if these were enough to make a dent in the team's performance deficit.

Running on Michelin tyres at Imola may also rob the team of the race pace advantage they have enjoyed this year, but with the amount of Michelin running in the cold and wet tests, some constructions should prove to be an improvement over previous Michelins.

Arrows

The team have yet to test in between races, and since the team appear to be well funded and by now most teams have produced enough chassis to furnish the test team with a car, this appears strange.

The car continues to show promise in between bouts of unreliability, and technical director Mike Coughlan feels that "Imola is a circuit that should suit our car quite well." He admits, however, that the car will need a lot of effort to perform. "We'll be working hard to get the right set up for the car from the word go," he said.

Running the powerful Cosworth engine and Bridgestone tyres should also allow the team to finally deliver on some of the untapped potential.

Minardi

Being one of the few teams without their own windtunnel and lacking the finance to book one on a permanent basis, a recent scheduled slot in the Fondmetal windtunnel has allowed the team to bring new aerodynamic solutions to Imola. Furthermore, a successful test was completed at Misano, with Mark Webber working on new front suspension, brake ducts and driver aids.

Being so far down on power compared to the other teams will not allow an improved Minardi to qualify further up the grid at Imola, but their reliability has been proven and another formidable finish can be expected at their home race.

Toyota

As their season continues to exceed expectations, Imola again appears to be a circuit that suits the Toyota car. The recent test was affected by some reliability issues, something the team have worked to avoid during race weekends. However, the test did allow the team to usefully test in mixed and wet conditions.

The team's weak point so far has been the inability to get both cars working effectively at the same time - there is always one Toyota driver at the front of the midfield during a session, but rarely two. This must be addressed in order for the team to progress during the season.