Breaking news: F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton struggles resurfacing…. read more
F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton struggles resurfacing…. read more
The Formula 1 paddock witnessed another shift in momentum at the iconic Imola circuit on Friday, as McLaren stamped their authority in both free practice sessions while Lewis Hamilton endured another tough outing. The seven-time world champion showed promise early in the day by finishing fifth in FP1, a full seven places ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. However, fortunes flipped in the afternoon’s FP2 session, with Leclerc climbing to sixth and Hamilton slipping down to 11th.
Hamilton’s struggles were compounded by ongoing issues with his brakes, which he expressed frustration about over team radio during the session. The Brit has faced persistent challenges adapting to Ferrari’s machinery this season, and today’s performance highlighted his continued difficulties in extracting pace from the car.
At the front of the pack, McLaren demonstrated exceptional form throughout the day. Oscar Piastri led both practice sessions, narrowly edging out teammate Lando Norris. Piastri’s best time in FP2 was a blistering 1:15.293, just 0.025 seconds quicker than Norris. The team’s strong showing suggests they could be serious contenders for pole position in qualifying and possibly the win on Sunday.
One of the standout performances of FP2 came from Pierre Gasly, who surprised many by securing third place for Alpine, finishing just 0.276 seconds off Piastri’s time. This marks a significant improvement for the French driver and his team, who have struggled for consistency throughout the season. In FP1 earlier, Williams’ Carlos Sainz had also turned heads by claiming an unexpected third spot, showing that midfield teams are closing the gap at certain circuits.
Behind Gasly in FP2, George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen slotted into fifth for Red Bull, four-tenths off the lead. Verstappen appeared to be off his usual pace but remains a threat heading into Saturday. Leclerc followed in sixth, with impressive showings from young drivers Isack Hadjar (7th for Racing Bulls) and Yuki Tsunoda (8th for Red Bull).
Williams continued their strong day, placing both cars in the top 10—Alex Albon ninth and Sainz tenth. Ferrari’s Hamilton missed the top 10 by just 0.009 seconds, finishing 11th, with Ollie Bearman of Haas just behind him in 12th.
Further down the order, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto came 13th, Fernando Alonso only managed 14th for Aston Martin, and young Liam Lawson was 15th for Racing Bulls. Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll followed in 16th and 17th, respectively. Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli, who’s been under the spotlight as a rising talent, could only place 18th. The session was rounded out by Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, who finished 19th and 20th.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can convert their practice pace into a strong qualifying and race result. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Ferrari will be hoping to resolve their technical issues and bounce back in time for Saturday’s crucial qualifying session.
