Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: FP1 Results
In a fiercely competitive opening practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Oscar Piastri narrowly edged out McLaren teammate Lando Norris, clocking a best lap of 1:16.545—just 0.032 seconds faster than Norris’s 1:16.577. This session marked the first European race weekend of the 2025 season, with many teams debuting significant upgrades.
Most notably, Norris set the early pace with 1:17.125 before Mercedes’ George Russell briefly took the lead with a 1:16.599, until Piastri responded as the session approached its midpoint. Carlos Sainz impressed with a third-fastest time in the Williams, just 0.020 seconds behind Norris, while Russell slipped to fourth.
Lewis Hamilton, despite initial concerns about the braking performance of his Ferrari, managed a competitive fifth place. He was less than a tenth behind Piastri, indicating potential for strong qualifying performance. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished sixth, showcasing the effectiveness of his team’s upgrades.
Defending champion Max Verstappen placed seventh after trialing a revised rear suspension setup. He reported difficulties with the car’s balance, expressing concerns about the rear stability.
The session concluded with a late red flag due to a crash involving Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber, who lost control at Rivazza, lightly impacting the wall.
FP1 Results Summary:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:16.545
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:16.577
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:16.599
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:16.621
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:16.625
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:16.696
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:16.889
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:17.012
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:17.030
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1:17.134
With upgrades visible across the grid, the competition is set to be intense as teams prepare for the remaining sessions leading into the race weekend.
