Formula 1 frontrunner Oscar Piastri posted the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, leading a strong McLaren performance with teammate Lando Norris securing second place. The session at Imola was prematurely concluded on Friday after rookie driver Gabriele Bortoleto was involved in a crash.
Piastri, the Australian driver who has recently shown impressive form, completed his quickest lap of the Imola circuit in 1:16.545 using the softest available tyre compound. Norris was closely behind, just 0.032 seconds slower, under clear and sunny conditions.
Following six races, Piastri currently holds a 16-point lead over Norris in the championship standings. The extensive 24-round season is now transitioning to its European phase after starting rounds in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
The practice session was red-flagged and ultimately not restarted when Brazilian rookie Bortoleto collided with the tyre barrier with roughly three minutes remaining on the clock. He was able to get out of his car apparently unharmed.
Carlos Sainz finished the session third fastest for Williams, 0.052 seconds adrift of Piastri`s leading time. George Russell of Mercedes was fractionally slower, trailing Sainz by just 0.002 seconds.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, participating in his first Italian race weekend as a Ferrari driver, secured the fifth position, being 0.096 seconds off the leading pace set by Piastri.
Pierre Gasly placed sixth for Alpine. Red Bull`s four-time world champion Max Verstappen was seventh, followed by Williams driver Alex Albon in eighth. Bortoleto was classified ninth based on his earlier laps, with his teammate Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10.
“I can`t rely on the rear. It feels like I`m drifting everywhere,”
Verstappen, last year`s winner at Imola, was heard communicating his struggles with the car`s handling over the team radio.
Mercedes` 18-year-old junior driver Kimi Antonelli, the sole Italian on the grid and making his home debut appearance, finished the session in 13th place.
Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, participating for Alpine as a replacement for fellow rookie Jack Doohan, recorded the 17th fastest time in his debut practice session.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who missed media duties on Thursday due to feeling unwell, finished 12th. He was observed running wide into the gravel trap at one point and also reported an issue with his helmet lifting during his runs.
