Imola Grand Prix Practice: Gasly Shines Despite Unfortunate Collision
Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly delivered a strong performance during the first day of practice for the 2025 Imola Grand Prix, recording a lap time of 1m15.569s, placing him third in the second session, just three-tenths of a second off the pace of the leading McLaren duo.
Following a tumultuous period for Alpine, which has seen the resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes and a mid-season driver change, Gasly expressed optimism post-session, labeling the day as “the best Friday so far this year.” He noted a significant improvement in the car’s performance compared to the previous Miami race, stating, “From the first lap, I could tell the car was in a much better place.”
However, the day was marred by an unusual incident when Gasly collided with a rabbit during the first practice session. The collision caused considerable damage to the front wing and the floor of his A525, impacting his running time. Gasly reflected on the mishap, saying, “I couldn’t tell if it was a small cat or a big rabbit… it turned out to be a big rabbit just jumping across the track.”
Despite the setback, Gasly managed a total of 21 laps in FP1, finishing sixth with a best time of 1m16.696s. He expressed renewed confidence in pushing the car to its limits on the challenging Imola circuit, showing resilience amidst the team’s recent challenges.
The focus now shifts to qualifying, where Gasly hopes to leverage the improvements made during practice.
