Emilia-Romagna GP: McLaren dominates as Piastri tops practice, Hadjar suffers gravel mishap
McLaren Dominates Practice at Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Ferrari Struggles at Home
Formula 1 action returned to the historic Imola circuit on Friday for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and McLaren sent a strong message to their rivals with a commanding performance during practice sessions. Australian star Oscar Piastri spearheaded the team’s one-two punch, much to Ferrari fans' dismay at their home race.
Piastri and Norris Lead the Charge
Piastri, riding the momentum of four wins in the last five races, showcased his dominance by clocking the fastest lap times in both practice sessions. His best effort came in the afternoon session, setting a blistering 1:15.293 lap, beating his earlier time of 1:16.545. Teammate Lando Norris trailed his championship-leading compatriot by narrow margins of just 0.032 and 0.025 seconds in the respective sessions, highlighting McLaren's remarkable pace.
Emotional Return to Imola
The opening session saw tension build early, especially for Ferrari fans looking for a morale boost at this iconic circuit. Imola, a venue steeped in history and tragedy—most notably marked by Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash in 1994—is also rumored to face exclusion from next year’s calendar, adding further poignancy to the weekend.
Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto provided one of the day's dramatic moments, crashing near the session's conclusion. The red flag brought practice to an early halt, but Bortoleto fortunately walked away unharmed.
Strong Performances from Rivals
Williams' Carlos Sainz delivered an impressive performance with a third-place finish in the first session, coming within 0.052 seconds of Piastri's pace. Mercedes’ George Russell wasn't far behind, just 0.002 seconds slower than Sainz.
In Practice Two, Pierre Gasly surprised the paddock by propelling Alpine to third place, although the Frenchman still lagged 0.276 seconds behind Piastri's best effort. Russell continued to push for Mercedes with a fourth-place showing. However, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar caused another stoppage in the second session after spinning off at speed and burying his car in the gravel.
Mixed Results for Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, adjusting to his first Italian GP as a Ferrari driver, delivered mixed results. The seven-time world champion finished fifth in the opening session, just 0.096 seconds off the pace, but dropped to 11th in the afternoon, ending up 0.650 seconds slower than Piastri.
Challenges for Verstappen and Ferrari
Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s four-time world champion and last year’s victor at Imola, experienced challenges. He posted seventh and fifth-fastest times in the sessions. Frustrated with his car's handling, Verstappen remarked over team radio: “I can't rely on the rear. It feels like I'm drifting everywhere.”
Ferrari faced major concerns at their home Grand Prix, with both drivers flagging brake problems throughout the day. Charles Leclerc, battling illness, endured a tough outing. He ran 12th in Practice One after an off-track excursion and finished sixth in Practice Two. He further voiced frustration with his helmet lifting at speed.
Promising Performances from Rookies
Mercedes’ Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli didn’t deliver headline-grabbing performances but showed promise in his home debut. The 18-year-old placed 13th and 18th across the sessions. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, the Argentine rookie stepping in for the dropped Jack Doohan, took a more reserved approach, finishing 17th in Practice One and improving to 13th later in the day while avoiding incidents.
Outlook Ahead of Qualifying
As Formula 1 shifts gears into the European season, McLaren looks set to carry their championship momentum forward, while Ferrari faces an uphill battle at their home circuit. Saturday's qualifying promises further intrigue as teams scramble to find answers to McLaren's superior pace.
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