McLaren Tops Emilia-Romagna GP Practice Sessions

McLaren dominates Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix practice sessions with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing 1-2 in both sessions.

McLaren dominated the practice sessions for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris securing the top two spots in both sessions. Piastri, the Australian driver, set the fastest times, impressing with his performance.

In the first practice session, Piastri achieved a best lap time of 1:16.545 seconds. He further improved this in the second session, setting a time of 1:15.293 seconds. Norris supported Piastri, forming a strong McLaren one-two in both sessions.

Lando Norris trails his teammate Oscar Piastri by 16 points in the championship standings after six races. Despite this, Norris was only slightly slower than Piastri in both practice sessions at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with a deficit of 0.032 seconds in the first practice and 0.025 seconds in the second.

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is being held at Imola, a historic circuit with a tragic past. Ayrton Senna's fatal accident in 1994 still resonates with Formula 1 fans. Interestingly, Imola is expected to be dropped from the F1 calendar next year, adding significance to this year's event. As Ferrari's home race, the circuit holds sentimental value, but the team faced challenges in Friday's practice sessions.

Practice Session Results:

• First Practice: Oscar Piastri topped the session with a time of 1:16.545 seconds, with Lando Norris closely following.
• Second Practice: Piastri again led the pack, setting a time of 1:15.293 seconds, while Norris trailed by 0.025 seconds. Pierre Gasly impressed with his Alpine, securing third place in the second session.

The first practice session was cut short due to a red flag after Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto crashed with about three minutes remaining. Fortunately, Bortoleto stepped out unhurt. Oscar Piastri topped the session, while Carlos Sainz came third for Williams, just 0.052 seconds off the pace. George Russell was fourth in the Mercedes, a further 0.002 seconds slower.

🔥 FASTEST IN FP2 🔥

1. Oscar
2. Lando
3. Pierre 💪#F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/GTypTwV4ch

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2025

In the second practice session, Piastri again set the fastest time. Pierre Gasly surprised with a third-place finish for Alpine, although he was 0.276 seconds behind Piastri's pace. George Russell secured fourth place in the session.

Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar experienced a dramatic moment in the second practice session, spinning out at high speed and getting his car stuck in the gravel. This incident triggered another set of red flags, disrupting the session.

Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, preparing for his debut Ferrari race in Italy, showed mixed results. He finished fifth in the first session but struggled in the second, ending up 11th. Hamilton was 0.096 seconds off the pace in the first session and 0.650 seconds behind in the second.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen struggled in practice, finishing seventh and fifth in the two sessions. During the first practice, Verstappen expressed frustration over radio, saying, “I can't rely on the rear. It feels like I'm drifting everywhere.” The four-time world champion and last year's Imola winner seemed to be having issues with his car's handling.

FP2 CLASSIFICATION

Piastri by a whisker from Norris at the top 🤏#F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/hWX1C9Yl80

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2025

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ended the day sixth fastest. Both Ferrari drivers complained about brake issues, which could be a concern for the team as they look to perform well at their home race.

Mercedes' 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli had a mixed practice session, finishing 13th and 18th fastest. As the only Italian on the starting grid, Antonelli is set for his home debut.

Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, who replaced Australian Jack Doohan at Alpine, had a steady practice. He was 17th fastest in the first session and improved to 13th by the end of the day, avoiding any major issues. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc faced challenges, including running wide into the gravel and complaining about his helmet lifting during the first session. Leclerc had been unwell on Thursday and skipped his media duties.