PRACTICE DEBRIEF: Are McLaren the team to beat again at Imola – or can a rival cause an upset? Russell identifies Mercedes' main rivals at Imola as home hero Antonelli looks to recover from ‘messy' start F2: Beganovic beats red flag to claim first pole position at Imola Ferrari's braking issues 'a lottery' as Hamilton reflects on FP2 struggles in Imola Tuukka Taponen also put in a stellar final effort to qualify fourth for ART Grand Prix. This means Del Pino will start from reverse grid pole on an all-MP front row in the Imola Sprint Race which is set to start 1005 local time on Saturday. FP1: Piastri sets the pace from Norris and Sainz during first practice in Imola Verstappen reveals details of Nurburgring Nordschleife test after lap record speculation WATCH: Bortoleto brings FP1 at Imola to an early finish after crash Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident

Video What the teams said – Friday in Emilia-Romagna PRACTICE DEBRIEF: Are McLaren the team to beat again at Imola – or can a rival cause an upset? F3: Camara makes it three poles in a row in dramatic Imola Qualifying Russell identifies Mercedes' main rivals at Imola as home hero Antonelli looks to recover from ‘messy' start F2: Beganovic beats red flag to claim first pole position at Imola Isack Hadjar ended the first day of running at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix stuck in the gravel trap after an incident in the closing stages of Friday's second practice session. Hadjar was attacking the first chicane at the Imola venue when he lost control of his Racing Bulls car, spun off the track and slid into the barriers – initially bringing out yellow flags. AS IT HAPPENED: All the action from second practice for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix While the Frenchman managed to creep away from the wall and return to the fringes of the circuit, he got beached in the gravel trap as he waited for rival cars to pass and left Race Control with no choice but to issue a red flag. Hit go on the video player above to watch Hadjar's crash as it unfolded. HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from FP2 at Imola as Piastri sets the pace, Ferrari struggle and Hadjar spins off Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident F1 EXPLAINS: What happens inside an F1 garage during a race - with Haas PRACTICE DEBRIEF: Are McLaren the team to beat again at Imola – or can a rival cause an upset? FP1: Piastri sets the pace from Norris and Sainz during first practice in Imola © 2003-2025 Formula One World Championship Limited

Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers FP1: Piastri sets the pace from Norris and Sainz during first practice in Imola The session resumed with less than two minutes remaining, leaving Piastri to head Norris as McLaren completed a perfect Friday of running. Pierre Gasly's Alpine impressed again by finishing third from Russell, Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver complaining of braking problems with his SF-25 along with team mate Lewis Hamilton throughout the session. WATCH: Colapinto opens up on his Alpine return in an exclusive F1 TV interview Nico Hulkenberg finished ahead of Esteban Ocon, with the Haas driver last and 1.127s off Piastri's session best. Teams will regroup overnight ahead of the third and final practice session on Saturday, which takes place from 1230 local time before Qualifying later in the day. WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers PADDOCK INSIDER: Colapinto's back in F1 action with Alpine – and the Argentinian racer means business Aston Martin bring first major upgrade package of 2025 to Imola as they seek turnaround in form F1 EXPLAINS: What happens inside an F1 garage during a race - with Haas

Video McLaren duo warn others 'will join us in the fight' despite impressive Friday showing in Imola Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers F1 FANTASY: Join the Ferrari Mini League for Imola, Monaco & Barcelona – Exclusive Prizes up for grabs Franco Colapinto is back in a Formula 1 race seat at this weekend's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, having been called up by Alpine to replace Jack Doohan after the first five rounds of the season. In an exclusive interview with F1 TV's Lawrence Barretto, the Argentinian racer opens up about the emotions around his return, when and where he found out, and what his expectations are alongside experienced team mate Pierre Gasly. PADDOCK INSIDER: Colapinto's back in F1 action with Alpine – and the Argentinian racer means business He also takes a moment to reflect on his whirlwind, super-sub run with Williams over the second half of the 2024 campaign – and what he learned from the incredible highs and painful lows during that period. Hit go on the video player above to watch the full interview with Colapinto. Don't miss your chance to experience the picturesque Imola circuit... Verstappen reveals details of Nurburgring Nordschleife test after lap record speculation WATCH: Colapinto opens up on his Alpine return in an exclusive F1 TV interview NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 moves on to Imola? BEHIND THE SCENES: How the upcoming ‘F1' movie plays into the sport's great underdog tradition BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 moves on to Imola? Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers FIA Thursday press conference – Emilia-Romagna ‘That is very much on us' – Vowles guarantees Miami team orders mix-up between Sainz and Albon ‘won't happen again' © 2003-2025 Formula One World Championship Limited

Video HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from FP2 at Imola as Piastri sets the pace, Ferrari struggle and Hadjar spins off McLaren duo warn others 'will join us in the fight' despite impressive Friday showing in Imola Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers The opening practice session for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix came to an abrupt halt with just over two minutes remaining following a crash for Gabriel Bortoleto. The Kick Sauber driver suffered a snap of oversteer through the final corner, which sent the young Brazilian into the gravel before colliding with the barrier. READ MORE: Piastri sets the pace from Norris and Sainz during first practice in Imola With the red flag deployed, the rookie driver reported "I'm okay" over the radio, before adding that "I think it was just the front wing [that was damaged]". Bortoleto was classified ninth in the one-hour session, which did not resume following the red flag, as Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri topped the times from McLaren team mate Lando Norris. Click play on the video above to watch replays of Bortoleto's crash. WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers WEEKEND WARM-UP: Who are the favourites as the European season kicks off in Imola? Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident 'He'll be back' – Drivers show support for Doohan and tip him for F1 return after Alpine driver change Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge © 2003-2025 Formula One World Championship Limited

Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers PADDOCK INSIDER: Colapinto's back in F1 action with Alpine – and the Argentinian racer means business READ MORE: Verstappen reveals details of Nurburgring Nordschleife test after lap record speculation Meanwhile there was an unusual problem for Leclerc, who stated that “helmet lift is horrible” as he struggled with his lid, while team mate Lewis Hamilton looked to be fighting with the Ferrari, the Briton reporting that the car did not want to slow down. READ MORE: Hamilton reflects on ‘really special moment' as co-chair of 2025 Met Gala Hamilton took fifth after a seemingly tricky session for Ferrari, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Verstappen, Albon, Bortoleto and the other Kick Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10. Lance Stroll claimed P11 for Aston Martin, ahead of Leclerc, Antonelli, Alonso and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson. Tsunoda, meanwhile, slotted into P16, with Colapinto in P17 while the Haas pair of Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon were 18th and 20th respectively, the duo separated by Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar. The drivers and teams will now regroup in the paddock to examine their data and prepare for Friday's second Free Practice session, which is due to get underway at 1700 local time. Hamilton reflects on ‘really special moment' as co-chair of 2025 Met Gala

Gasly hails ‘best Friday of the year' with P3 in Imola after bouncing back from ‘unfortunate' FP1 incident Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge WATCH: Hadjar triggers red flag during FP2 at Imola after spinning into the barriers READ MORE: Verstappen not expecting any ‘magic' as Red Bull prepare to roll out latest updates at Imola READ MORE: Hamilton gets set for ‘very special' first Ferrari home race as he shares ‘dream I'm working towards' While Verstappen, who sits third in this year's F1 Drivers' standings after six races, had never driven around the notorious 14-mile circuit, he was no stranger to the venue, having sampled it numerous times courtesy of his sim racing hobby. "I've never driven there in real life, not even with a road car," he said. PADDOCK INSIDER: Colapinto's back in F1 action with Alpine – and the Argentinian racer means business WATCH: Colapinto opens up on his Alpine return in an exclusive F1 TV interview PADDOCK INSIDER: Colapinto's back in F1 action with Alpine – and the Argentinian racer means business Verstappen describes ‘tough' first day at Imola as he fears Red Bull ‘not fast enough' to challenge