F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers Ferrari ‘damage’ in I… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s debut as a Ferrari driver at the Imola Grand Prix has been far from the fairytale that fans anticipated. Coming into the qualifying session on Saturday, May 17, 2025, under the Italian sun, Hamilton found himself facing unexpected challenges. The seven-time world champion struggled significantly during the weekend’s final practice session, finishing in a disappointing tenth place. His misfortune became apparent when he was heard radioing his team, expressing concern about his car’s performance with the message, “I have floor damage, I ran wide,” after a wayward excursion out of turn 18 at Rivazza.
The narrative of the day wasn’t only about Hamilton’s struggles; fellow competitors were also facing their own difficulties. Notably, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, encountered his own issues, causing a red flag during the session following a crash. It seems that teams were having difficulty maximizing their performance on the soft compound tires, often failing to improve on their times established using the mediums. This was likely influenced by a combination of Pirelli’s decision to reduce tire pressures overnight and a noticeable drop in track temperatures throughout the session.
Meanwhile, McLaren exhibited strong performance, building on their dominance from Friday. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showcased their skills, with Norris finishing first in the practice session, barely edging out his teammate Piastri by just 0.100 seconds. This performance reflects McLaren’s confidence and competitiveness as they continue to make strides in the championship race.
As the practice session unfolded, it proved to be a tense and eventful one. While there were no session-ending red flags like those that had interrupted previous sessions on Friday, there were still moments of drama. Liam Lawson spun at high speed through the notorious Tamburello, leading to concern as he damaged his tires but, fortunately, managed to avoid any collision with the wall.
The final practice results for the Imola Grand Prix show the competitiveness of the field. Norris topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:14.897, followed closely by his teammate Piastri. Verstappen, despite his struggles, managed to finish third, albeit 0.181 seconds behind. Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes came in fourth, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz completed the top six in their Ferraris.
Here are the results from FP3 at the Imola Grand Prix 2025:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:14.897
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.100s
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.181s
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.502s
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.554s
6. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.560s
7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +0.611s
8. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.765s
9. Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.835s
10. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.890s
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.922s
12. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – +1.047s
13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +1.078s
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +1.080s
15. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.093s
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) – +1.149s
17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +1.213s
18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +1.313s
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – +1.341s
20. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +1.490s
As the weekend continues, fans are eager to see if Hamilton can bounce back in the qualifying session later that day. The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend promises excitement, with qualifying slated for 4 PM local time and 3 PM BST. The anticipation is palpable as teams strategize and drivers prepare for a critical qualifying session that could shape the outcome of the race. It remains to be seen whether Hamilton can recover from his early setbacks and find a rhythm that aligns with his ambitions and those of the storied Scuderia Ferrari team.
