Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen beaten as shock R…..read more
During the first practice session (FP1) of the Imola Grand Prix, Formula 1 fans witnessed an unexpected twist as renowned drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were outpaced by a surprising contender. The session came to an abrupt halt due to a late red flag incident caused by a crash, adding further drama to an already unpredictable start to the race weekend.
The McLaren team dominated the timesheets once again in Emilia Romagna, securing the top two positions and continuing their strong form from previous races. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari also put in a solid performance, clocking the third-fastest lap time of the session. His effort placed him ahead of both Hamilton and Verstappen, who are usually considered front-runners in such events.
Hamilton encountered difficulties with his car during the session, particularly with his braking system. Over the team radio, he expressed frustration, stating that the “car doesn’t want to stop,” suggesting that the brakes were not performing to his expectations. Despite this issue, the seven-time world champion managed to recover some ground and finish the session within the top ten. He also outpaced his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, who ended the session in fifth place.
Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and consistent front-runner for Red Bull Racing, did not perform at his usual dominant level either. The Dutch driver was unable to challenge the pace set by the McLarens and Sainz, and his session concluded without him securing a top-three finish.
Adding to the session’s unexpected developments, Gabriel Bortoleto caused a red flag in the final minutes after losing control of his Sauber car on the kerbs at Rivazza 1. Despite the incident, Bortoleto had already put in a strong lap earlier and finished an impressive ninth overall. The crash led to the early conclusion of the session, denying drivers a final opportunity to improve their lap times.
This FP1 session at Imola has already set the stage for what could be an unpredictable and exciting race weekend. With McLaren looking strong, Ferrari competitive, and both Hamilton and Verstappen dealing with setbacks, the rest of the weekend promises to be closely contested. The early end to the session may have limited valuable data collection for teams, adding an extra element of uncertainty heading into qualifying and the race itself.
