The Imola Grand Prix got underway on Friday with two practice sessions that revealed some intriguing performance dynamics. Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, faced a challenging day as Red Bull struggled to keep pace with the dominant McLaren duo.
In both FP1 and FP2, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris showcased their car’s impressive speed, topping the time sheets with ease. Verstappen, on the other hand, had a tough time, suffering a late crash in FP2 that raised concerns about his team’s performance. To make matters worse, he was even outpaced by an Alpine and a Mercedes during the second practice session.
The session was briefly interrupted by a red flag when Isack Hadjar, a Racing Bulls driver, spun at Turn 3 and hit the tire barrier, getting stuck in the gravel. This incident added to the challenges faced by the teams as they worked to fine-tune their cars.
In FP1, Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen were left in the shadows by the McLaren drivers, with Carlos Sainz managing to sneak into third place. However, Hamilton’s session was marred by brake issues, which he vocalized over team radio, stating that the car was struggling to stop. Despite this, he managed to recover and finish in the top 10, ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc also experienced brake problems, echoing Hamilton’s concerns in FP2. Both drivers struggled with their inability to brake properly, which could potentially impact their performance in the upcoming sessions.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto caused a stir in FP1 when he lost control of his Sauber on the kerb at Rivazza 1, triggering a late red flag. However, he still managed to finish an impressive ninth in the session.
Another notable development was the return of Franco Colapinto, who took the seat vacated by Jack Doohan for the next five rounds. Colapinto was back in the cockpit for the Imola Grand Prix with Alpine and finished 13th in FP2.
Despite losing team principal Oliver Oakes during the break between races, Alpine’s performance on track has remained unaffected. Pierre Gasly set the sixth-fastest time in FP1 and third-fastest in FP2, showcasing the team’s potential.
As the teams and drivers analyze their performance data, they’ll focus on fine-tuning their cars and strategies for Saturday’s qualifying session and the main event. The tight competition and challenging circuit ensure that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be an exciting and unpredictable race.
The results from FP1 and FP2 have set the stage for an intriguing weekend, with several teams and drivers looking to make their mark on the Imola circuit. Will McLaren continue their dominance, or will other teams rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.
F1 FP2 Results: Imola Grand Prix 2025
- Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – 1:15.293 secs
- Lando Norris [McLaren] – +0.025
- Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +0.276
- George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.400
- Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.442
- Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.475
- Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +0.499
- Yuki Tsunoda [Red Bull] – +0.534
- Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.623
- Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +0.641
- Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.650
- Ollie Bearman [Haas] – +0.716
- Franco Colapinto [Alpine] – +0.751
- Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +0.927
- Liam Lawson [Racing Bulls] – +0.962
- Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +1.046
- Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1.048
- Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.113
- Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +1.126
- Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +1.127
F1 FP1 Results: Imola Grand Prix 2025 - Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – 1:16.545secs
- Lando Norris [McLaren] – +0.032
- Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +0.052
- George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.054
- Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.096
- Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +0.151
- Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.360
- Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.377
- Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +0.380
- Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +0.453
- Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +0.487
- Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.532
- Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +0.549
- Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +0.576
- Liam Lawson [Racing Bulls] – +0.741
- Yuki Tsunoda [Red Bull] – +0.811
- Franco Colapinto [Alpine] – +0.828
- Ollie Bearman [Haas] – +0.901
- Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +1.096
- Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +1.117
Who is the current F1 world champion?
Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.
Is there F1 today?
Practice continues on Saturday, May 17 with FP3 at 12:30pm (local time) and 11:30am (BST). To read the complete breakdown of practice times and how to watch in your location click here.
