60
1:30 p.m
End of 2nd training session
The 2nd practice session at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is over and Russell actually sets the best time with 1:19.457. Right behind, however, is Sergio Pérez, just 0.081s adrift on yellow tyres. The top 3 is completed by Charles Leclerc, who is missing another two tenths on the British.
59
13:25
Everything fits?
Norris won’t set any more lap times, but he can at least test whether everything is OK with his vehicle. It’s a messed up session for McLaren.
56
13:25
Next to the team boss
Instead of being on the track, Bottas has already changed and is standing next to his team boss. His car has had technical problems since yesterday and will only intervene in the sprint.
54
13:21
Alonso in the top seven
Actually, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari determine the best times today, but Fernando Alonso has crept in between the three teams and has set the fifth best time so far.
51
13:18
It’s all in the mix
Many teams try to have one rider ride primarily yellow tires and the other rider prefer red tires to get the best understanding of the rubber.
48
13:17
Ricciardo is out
The Australian stands very relaxed next to his car and looks at the monitors while the mechanics tinker with his car without much hectic. Apparently it won’t start again because the car’s entire underbody is missing. The focus is therefore on the later sprint race.
46
13:15
The teams see red
In the meantime, there are almost exclusively soft compounds on the asphalt. It is said that the fast tires would hold up safely for 21 laps and thus also determine the sprint. Maybe some best times will be set after all.
44
13:12
Ferrari goes along
Late in the session, Ferrari finally appears to be participating, switching to the red tyres. Charles Leclerc moves up to P2, 0.283 seconds behind Russell.
42
13:10
Norris withdraws
That doesn’t look good at McLaren. 18 minutes are still on the clock, but Norris leaves the pits.
39
13:06
Unity in the driver’s field
The teams are still content to just test, ride and collect data. Accordingly, Russell can make himself comfortable at the top of this training. The 1:19.457 could already be enough for the best time of the session.
36
13:04
hard mix
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly stand out with their rounds. They set their best times on the hard, white tyres. This means that they are only ten hundredths apart in fifth and seventh place.
35
13:02
Change to red
Although Vettel had already completed a lap in the red Pirellis at the beginning of the practice session, he is now driving the first serious laps and initially jumps to ninth place, directly ahead of team-mate Stroll.
32
13:00
Continue without times
Bottas and Ricciardo were still unable to set times. This is particularly bitter on a weekend when there are only two training sessions available anyway. Norris will also be annoyed, who is currently out with brake problems.
29
12:58 p.m
George Russell’s new best lap
That’s it with the lurking position, because Russell just drives the fastest lap. He is 0.333 seconds ahead of the Mexican in the Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton is back in the pits.
28
12:57 p.m
Pursuit in Silver
Sergio Pérez continues to lead the field. Behind him, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, are George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in wait.
27
12:55 p.m
Far behind
Not much is going on for Mick Schumacher. After three laps he is three seconds behind the fastest drivers. However, Haas is still holding back in general, because Magnussen only drives a good two tenths faster than the young German.
24
12:53
Defect at Lando Norris
The 22-year-old’s McLaren is in the pits and, like team-mate Ricciardo’s car, has been jacked up. Apparently there are problems with the braking system. However, the team hopes to be able to intervene again at the end of the session.
23
12:52
Ferrari reserved
Ferrari is holding back a good 24 hours before the home Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc only occupy eighth and ninth place.
20
12:48 p.m
collect data
The two Aston Martins were the first to complete four laps each. Aston Martin seems keen to collect as much data as possible for today’s sprint and tomorrow’s race after a disappointing start to the season.
18
12:46 p.m
Small pebbles
George Russell got out of his vehicle in the pits because a stone got lost in the footwell and interfered with driving. A Mercedes employee found the stone, however, so that the Briton can continue testing immediately.
16
12:45 p.m
On yellow tires
The top 4 consists entirely of red tires at the moment with Pérez, Verstappen, Albon and Gasly. As the first driver with the yellow compound, Tsunoda follows in P5.
15
12:43 p.m
About the green
Hamilton aims for the chicane before realizing he’s approaching with a little too much speed. In order not to brake the tires here, he simply drives straight across the lawn.
13
12:40 p.m
Focus on sprints
As expected, the teams primarily use the dry conditions to test for the sprint. So the car is refueled accordingly and fitted with the yellow tires with which they will probably later complete the 21 laps.
10
12:39 p.m
New best lap by Sergio Pérez
After Hamilton held the best time for a few laps, the Red Bulls are now stepping up. Pérez set a new best time of 1:20.198. Verstappen is half a second behind him.
7
12:36
Problems with Ricciardo
The McLaren team jacked up Daniel Ricciardo’s car. Work is being done on the rear and one hears that it could take a little more time for this.
6
12:34
first times
Zhou takes the lead for a moment, setting a cautious start time. Shortly thereafter, Norris overtook him by a good second.
4
12:32
The first rounds
Aston Martin, Haas and Mercedes each sent both drivers onto the track. The field of drivers is filling up for the moment, with some drivers driving back into the pits or doing starting exercises at the pit exit.
2
12:31
Shell of Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas’ car is still being worked on a lot. Among other things, the front wing is missing and the technicians are apparently working on the mechanics. In yesterday’s qualifying, the Finn had to park his car and thus provoked one of the red flags.
1
12:30 p.m
Start 2nd training
The traffic lights are green, the start of the 2nd training session in Imola has taken place. Lance Stroll opens the session on yellow tires.
12:25
A dry Saturday
After the rain started yesterday and a few drops are also expected for tomorrow, today will probably be the only dry day in Imola. It is possible that the knowledge gained from the training only counts for the sprint race.
12:20 p.m
Final preparations
Before the sprint begins, the 2nd training session is still to come. Here the teams can carry out final tests and implement possible improvements for the two races. However, the results from this session could have little bearing on tomorrow’s race.
12:10 p.m
No Q3 for Mercedes
The problem child of this season remains Mercedes. The Silver Arrows, in particular Lewis Hamilton, only barely made it into Q2. But when the rain started, it was over again. George Russel is in eleventh place. Lewis Hamilton starts right behind him.
12:00 p.m
The German times
In view of the teammate’s fourth place, Mick Schumacher should be annoyed about qualifying. Heavy rain set in in Q2, which prevented several drivers from returning to the track, after all the previous times were set on a dry track. Schumacher only starts from P12 in the sprint. Sebastian Vettel was luckier, fighting his way into Q3 and once again proving his strength in the rain. The reward is a strong eighth place, while his teammate Stroll starts from only 15th place.
11:50
Colorful top 10
One of the winners of the wild qualifying should be McLaren. Lando Norris secured third place with his late crash, while Ricciardo starts from P6. Between the two are the strong Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso. Pérez starts in seventh place, followed by Bottas, Vettel and Sainz.
11:40 a.m
Qualifying already driven
Because of the sprint weekend, the drivers had to put in their best performance yesterday when they started qualifying in the rainy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. In a spectacular competition, there were a total of five red flags and a correspondingly large mess. With only 38 seconds left, Lando Norris finally hit the wall, which is why there was no restart and sometimes not even the best times are responsible for the placements. Max Verstappen, who is now almost eight tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc, can be happy.
11:30
Welcome to the 2nd training session
At 12:30 p.m., Formula 1 starts in Imola with the second practice session on Saturday. Afterwards, the first sprint race of the season awaits us. Have fun!