The 2025 Emilia-Romagna GP kicked off with tight margins, rising tension, and early surprises as teams fine-tuned setups in Friday practice.
McLaren set the early pace, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris topping FP2, showing sharp one-lap speed on a track where qualifying is king.
Max Verstappen struggled with balance in Red Bull’s upgraded RB21, voicing rare frustration, while Pierre Gasly impressed in P3 despite a bizarre collision with a rabbit.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman showed promise, outpacing teammate Hülkenberg, and Yuki Tsunoda nearly matched Verstappen’s time.
Alpine and Ferrari hinted at potential but lacked consistency. With overtaking tough at Imola, grid position will be crucial, setting the stage for a fierce Saturday showdown.
McLaren Focused on Qualifying Pace at Imola as Rivals Loom
McLaren made no secret of its strategy during Friday practice at Imola: the team is placing a strong emphasis on qualifying. With overtaking notoriously difficult at this high-speed, narrow circuit, securing a front-row start could prove crucial for race day success.
Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets, leading teammate Lando Norris in FP2. While pleased with his pace, the Australian made it clear McLaren isn’t the only team eyeing pole position.
“Being quick over one lap is key here,” Piastri said. “Saturday’s been important at most tracks this year, but here at Imola, it’s everything. Still, I don’t think it’s just Lando and me in the fight. Others will join the mix tomorrow, so we need to stay sharp and keep improving.”
Norris Cautious Despite McLaren’s Strong Start at Imola
Lando Norris, just a fraction behind Piastri, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the challenge of mastering a track as demanding as Imola.
“I’m pretty happy today. It’s a tough circuit to find rhythm, it’s fast and unforgiving. Timing and precision matter so much here, and that’s not easy at the pace we’re running.”
While encouraged by the car’s performance, Norris warned that Friday’s pace isn’t always the full picture.
“We tend to look strong in FP2, but when it comes to qualifying, other teams catch up. We’re definitely not in a comfortable spot yet, there’s work to do.”
The Briton also noted that the competition looks fiercer than ever.
“Alpine’s been quick here before. Red Bull will no doubt bounce back, and I expect Mercedes to be in the mix as well. So there’s no room for complacency. But overall, it was a solid, productive Friday.”
Russell Concerned as McLaren Strengthens Grip at Imola
George Russell had a productive first day of practice at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, but the Mercedes driver left the track with concerns, chiefly about McLaren’s growing advantage in key conditions.
Russell was surprised to see Pierre Gasly’s Alpine ahead of him in the timesheets and admitted that McLaren’s pace, especially under high tyre degradation, could prove problematic.
“There were a few surprises out there. Gasly pulled off a great lap, which caught us off guard,” Russell said. “There’s a lot of degradation this weekend, and we’re using the softest compound for the first time this season. That tends to play into McLaren’s hands.”
Russell couldn’t help but laugh when recalling the pace of the McLaren duo.
“I was keeping an eye on Oscar [Piastri], and then suddenly, he was gone. He even overtook Max [Verstappen] and disappeared. That’s just where we are as a team right now. We’ll do our best to battle with Max and the Ferraris.”
He noted that qualifying might be closer than race pace, but the team’s focus remains on consistency and understanding the new upgrades.
“It’s probably going to be tighter in qualifying than in the race. We’ve brought new parts, and we’re checking everything is working as expected. It’s great to drive here, it’s a fantastic track, really enjoyable.”
Asked about Pirelli’s C6 tyre, Russell was fairly positive.
“For qualifying runs, it was actually pretty good. It reminded me of an old interview with Seb [Vettel] about the Hypersoft tyres in Monaco, six years ago, I think. That came to mind today. This tyre might not be ideal for this circuit, but it adds a bit of unpredictability, and that’s good for the sport.”
Antonelli Learns Fast After Challenging Start at Imola
Meanwhile, young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli had a tough day but remains optimistic.
“It was tricky today. I couldn’t put a full lap together. In FP2, I made a mistake at the chicane and struggled to cool the tyres on the second attempt, no grip at all,” he explained.
Despite the setbacks, Antonelli took some positives from his long-run pace.
“It was chaotic and not ideal, but I know where I need to improve. Our long-run pace on medium tyres was encouraging. Between FP1 and FP2, the balance improved. We still need to fine-tune things, and I have to step up, but overall, we’re on the right track. Tomorrow will depend on me.”
Hadjar Shows Promise at Imola but Wary Ahead of Tight Qualifying
Isack Hadjar enjoyed a strong showing during Friday practice at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, finishing the day in seventh place. The Racing Bulls driver ran with the team’s latest updates to the VCARB 02, but noted that the changes didn’t significantly alter the car’s behavior.
“It’s definitely an evolution, but not a major one. It didn’t feel like a new car, the handling is still very much the same,” Hadjar said. “There was no need to adapt to anything different. Overall, a solid day, I had good feeling in the car, so I’m happy.”
Late in the second free practice, Hadjar slid off the track, bringing his session to an early end.
“Out of Turn 3, I went on the throttle a bit earlier than before. I lost the rear, caught it, but by then I had two wheels in the gravel and couldn’t save it again,” he explained. “I don’t think there’s any damage, but it’s a shame we couldn’t finish the run.”
Looking ahead, Hadjar expects qualifying to be extremely competitive on the narrow, unforgiving layout of Imola.
“It’s going to be really tight. This is a short circuit, and everyone knows it well. That means there’s little room for error. Overtaking is nearly impossible here, so qualifying will be everything.”
Lawson Targets Q3 After Data-Driven Day at Imola
His teammate Liam Lawson, who finished 15th, echoed the importance of fine-tuning the car overnight.
“FP1 wasn’t bad. We knew there was more to find, so in FP2 we took different directions setup-wise, which gave us useful data. It was a productive session for both sides of the garage,” Lawson said.
The New Zealander is hoping to break into Q3 but admitted it’s hard to predict how the car will stack up.
“We’ll aim for Q3 tomorrow. The field is so close, and we’ve seen a big step forward from Isack’s side, which is encouraging. Hopefully, I can match that or go even further.”
On Pirelli’s softest C6 compound, Lawson remained positive:
“The new softs were decent, no complaints for now. But tomorrow’s when it really counts. So far, so good.”
Aston Martin’s Upgrades Bring Only Minor Gains, Say Alonso and Stroll
Aston Martin rolled out its latest updates at Imola, but early feedback suggests the new parts haven’t brought any major breakthroughs. On Friday, only Lance Stroll ran the upgraded AMR25, allowing Fernando Alonso to serve as a benchmark with the baseline setup.
Alonso, who finished 14th using medium tyres, focused on collecting data rather than chasing lap times.
“Today was about giving the team the best information possible,” Alonso explained. “I did my half of the job, Lance did his with the new components, and we’ll compare everything tonight to see which parts are working. Hopefully we can unlock more pace tomorrow.”
The Spaniard also noted how traffic played a major role at the tight, classic Imola circuit.
“It’s an old-school track, narrow and tricky with traffic. In qualifying, a lot comes down to timing and luck. It’s a good rehearsal for Monaco, which is even more challenging. We’ll give it everything and see where we land.”
Stroll Plays Down Aston Upgrades After Quiet Friday
Lance Stroll was more reserved in his assessment of the car’s updates. When asked if the changes made a big difference, his response was blunt:
“It feels the same.”
Pressed further, the Canadian downplayed expectations.
“We weren’t expecting miracles. These are small changes, nothing huge.”
After ending the day in 17th, Stroll hopes to build on the data gathered and find some improvements heading into Saturday.
“We’ll see what we can do overnight to get more out of the car.”
Ferrari and Hamilton Off the Pace in Early Sessions at Imola
It was a mixed start to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, as both Charles Leclerc and the seven-time world champion struggled to find single-lap performance during Friday practice.
Leclerc finished sixth in FP2 but admitted the day wasn’t smooth for him or the team, especially with Ferrari racing on home soil.
“It was a tricky start to the weekend. We had some issues in FP1, including a problem with my helmet, which didn’t help. FP2 went a bit better, but we’re still lacking some performance,” said Leclerc.
Despite those challenges, the Monegasque driver found positives in Ferrari’s long-run pace.
“Our race pace looked solid, but Imola isn’t an easy place to overtake. Right now, our main weakness is qualifying pace. That’s where we need to focus tonight and improve for tomorrow.”
Hamilton Battles Brake Woes in Mixed Imola Outing
Lewis Hamilton, who ended the second session in 11th, also struggled, particularly with brake performance.
“FP1 actually felt good. The balance was there, and I didn’t think we needed to change much. But FP2 was a step back,” Hamilton explained. “I couldn’t get into a rhythm, and the brakes aren’t responding the way I need them to.”
Even with those frustrations, the Mercedes team managed to complete their planned program, including valuable long-run data.
“We got through everything despite the traffic and red flags. We’ve got a lot of data to dig into tonight.”
Positive Start for Bearman, Tough Day for Ocon at Imola
Haas had a promising opening day at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, particularly with Oliver Bearman behind the wheel. The young Briton tested the team’s upgraded VF-25 and left the track feeling confident, even if there’s still more work to do.
“It was a positive day. We were running a new spec of the car, so FP1 was all about checking if the on-track behavior matched our simulations,” Bearman said. “We got more out of it in FP2, and I was happy with how it felt. Now the goal is to keep building on that.”
Though unsure of what results to expect, Bearman felt confident in the areas Haas focused on improving.
“The car felt good, and I was comfortable in the zones we’ve worked on. The midfield is really tight, so we’ll have to see what’s possible tomorrow.”
He also noted the delicate balance between downforce and top speed, a key factor for Saturday’s setup choices.
“We’re still chasing that sweet spot between straight-line speed and downforce. That’ll be a big discussion tonight, especially with the wind expected to change tomorrow. But today was encouraging.”
Ocon Struggles for Grip in Frustrating Friday at Imola
For Esteban Ocon, the day was far more challenging. The Alpine driver finished at the bottom of both sessions and struggled with the front end of his car.
“It was a tough Friday. We had major issues with the front of the car, and that made things really difficult,” Ocon explained.
The Frenchman said the team will dig deeper into the data overnight to understand what went wrong.
“There are some things I noticed that we need to explore, but something just isn’t clicking right now. We have a clear direction, and it’s not the updates, the upgrades are doing what they’re supposed to do, which is a positive.”
As for Pirelli’s new C6 soft compound, Ocon wasn’t particularly concerned.
“It felt fine over a single lap. No one really ran it over long stints, so I think we’ll learn more about it during the race. So far, no issues.”
Strong Start for Albon and Sainz as Both Crack the Top 10 at Imola
Friday practice at Imola brought promising signs for both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, with the two drivers finishing inside the top 10 during Free Practice 2. It marked a solid start to the weekend as teams adapted to the unique demands of the classic Italian circuit and the debut of Pirelli’s softest compound, the C6.
Albon finished 9th and was upbeat about the car’s behavior on the demanding track.
“Not bad at all! Imola’s always a great place to drive, it’s one of those circuits that’s just pure fun. The car feels pretty good here, although we’re still figuring out the C6 tyres,” said the Williams driver. “They’re new this year, and there’s a bit of a learning curve. Traffic made things tricky at times, but overall, I’m happy with where we’re at.”
Sainz Eyes Quali Gains After Solid Start at Imola
Carlos Sainz followed closely in 10th and echoed the positive vibes, though he acknowledged there’s work to do on tyre understanding.
“It was a strong Friday overall. On soft tyres in FP1, we looked quick, but in FP2 we didn’t quite get the most out of them,” Sainz admitted. “The medium compound gave us a better balance, so we’ll need to analyze the C6 more carefully and prepare for qualifying. Track position is everything at Imola, you need rhythm if you want to fight up front.”
Gasly Puts Alpine P3 on Friday Despite Unusual Rabbit Incident
Pierre Gasly delivered a standout performance at Imola, finishing third in Free Practice 2, just behind the McLarens, but the day wasn’t without an unexpected twist. During FP1, the Frenchman hit a rabbit that had wandered onto the track, causing damage to his Alpine A525.
“It was really sad,” Gasly said. “At first I wasn’t sure if it was a small cat or a large rabbit, but it turned out to be a big rabbit jumping across the track. I couldn’t avoid it, and the impact damaged the front wing pretty badly.”
The collision not only ended the rabbit’s life but also damaged the front wing and underfloor of his car.
“It’s frustrating, because we always try to protect our parts and manage everything carefully. When something like that happens, it’s definitely not ideal,” he added. “The team did a great job fixing it, but yeah, it was a situation we all would’ve preferred to avoid.”
Despite the odd setback, Gasly rebounded strongly in FP2, showing impressive pace and control after a tough weekend in Miami.
“Honestly, it was a very, very strong Friday. From the first lap, I could feel the car was in much better shape than in Miami,” he said. “The balance is good, I can push it right to the edge, and it reacts exactly how I want it to. That’s the confidence you want as a driver.”
While Gasly doesn’t expect to stay ahead of some of the top teams in qualifying, he remains encouraged by Alpine’s overall progress.
“Some teams will probably step it up tomorrow, we know how it works. But this was definitely our best Friday of the year so far.”
Colapinto Positive After Promising Alpine FP1 Debut
Meanwhile, young Argentine driver Franco Colapinto made his Grand Prix weekend debut with Alpine, driving in FP1. The rookie was upbeat about his first taste of action with the A525.
“It’s amazing to be back in an F1 car during a race weekend. I’m starting to get comfortable,” Colapinto said. “There’s still a lot to work on, especially with setup, but I felt more competitive by the end of the session. Pierre showed how strong the car is, and that’s encouraging.”
He knows qualifying at Imola will be tricky with traffic and tight margins, but he’s ready to keep learning.
“We’ll need to be sharp from Q1. There’s a lot to go over tonight, but I’m happy with my first day and looking forward to what’s next.”
Bortoleto Pushes the Limits, Hülkenberg Admits Pace Is Lacking at Imola
Gabriel Bortoleto had a dramatic but promising first outing at Imola during Friday practice for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The young Brazilian, driving for Sauber, finished inside the top 10 in FP1, despite ending his session with a crash.
“It was a shame to finish the session that way because things were going really well,” Bortoleto explained. “I was trying to find the limits of the car and settle into a rhythm on the long runs. I caught a small slide but couldn’t recover in time.”
The incident, which occurred late in the session, didn’t stop him from continuing in the afternoon.
“As I said before the weekend, this track doesn’t forgive mistakes. I did my best to save it, and luckily the car hit front-on, so it was just the front wing that got damaged. We managed to get back out for FP2.”
Despite the crash, Bortoleto managed to outpace his more experienced teammate, Nico Hülkenberg, who had a quieter and more frustrating day.
Hülkenberg Seeks ‘Miracle’ After Flat Friday Pace
“It was an okay Friday,” said Hülkenberg. “No big issues, but when you look at the timesheets, we’re clearly missing some pace. The balance feels fine, but we’re just lacking something.”
With the field tightly packed on a short, technical circuit like Imola, the German driver knows the team needs to find something extra before qualifying.
“There are always variables, engine modes, fuel loads, but right now we need to find a bit of a miracle to close the gap for tomorrow.”
Asked about the new Pirelli C6 soft compound, Hülkenberg was reasonably positive.
“On a single lap, it felt fine. I saw Fernando [Alonso] set his best time on the medium tyre, which was last year’s softest. We’ll see what strategies others go for, but in terms of tyre allocation, there’s not a lot of room to play.”
Verstappen Frustrated with Upgraded Red Bull, Tsunoda Closes the Gap at Imola
It was a challenging start to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen struggling to find pace and confidence in the upgraded RB21. The Dutchman finished seventh in FP1 and fifth in FP2, trailing the McLarens by nearly half a second.
Visibly frustrated in the cockpit, Verstappen grappled with a lack of balance and control throughout the day. He even slammed his steering wheel after a particularly scrappy lap that saw him run wide multiple times.
“We’re just not quick enough at the moment to fight at the front,” Verstappen admitted. “We tried a lot of different things, some better than others, but overall, it’s not enough. Even on the long runs, we were behind.”
Asked about his confidence heading into the rest of the weekend, the reigning world champion didn’t sugarcoat it:
“Right now, not very high. We need to improve the balance in the corners and find more pace.”
He added that Red Bull’s issues weren’t just in comparison to McLaren, but also relative to the rest of the field.
“McLaren pulled away easily on the long runs, which says a lot. But even against the other teams around us, it was more difficult than usual.”
Tsunoda Finds His Groove with Upgraded Car at Imola
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda had a quietly impressive day. After a muted FP1 where he placed 18th, the Japanese driver found rhythm in FP2, finishing just 0.09 seconds behind Verstappen in P8.
“Overall, it was a good day,” Tsunoda said. “We’re still learning about the limits of the car with the new upgrade package. The long runs were useful, but we need to focus on improving our single-lap pace tomorrow.”
Despite the continued gap to McLaren, Tsunoda remains optimistic:
“There’s still a lot of work to do as a team. But we’ll give it everything to be more competitive in qualifying.”
- Discover More>Verstappen Hits Back at Claims His GT3 Test Was Rigged
- Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 update
