(Imola) The Monegasque Charles Leclerc achieved the best time in the 1D free practice session of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, 7e round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday in Imola (Italy).
The Ferrari driver beat the Mercedes of Briton George Russell, and his Spanish teammate in the ranks of the Scuderia, Carlos Sainz.
Reigning three-time world champion Max Verstappen is only 5e on the timesheet at the end of these first tests, primarily intended to develop the single-seaters.
The championship leader did not seem completely in the game during this hour of driving, notably committing two driving errors at the end of the session – without consequences for his RB20.
On the other hand, the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, 6e best time, surprised – and delighted his team which, like Ferrari, plays at home in Italy. Red Bull’s little sister team is based in Faenza, around ten kilometers from the circuit.
Winner of the last GP, in Miami at the beginning of May, the Briton Lando Norris finished 8eahead of his McLaren teammate, Australian Oscar Piastri, 9e.
During the session, only the Dane Kevin Magnussen was missing among the starters. The Haas driver gave up his place in favor of Oliver Bearman, reserve driver of the American team.
The Briton took 15e best time. Earlier this year, Bearman replaced Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who had surgery for appendicitis, in the Ferrari seat at short notice. He finished in an impressive seventh place.
These first tests at Imola –– scene of a tragic accident which cost the death of the Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna 30 years ago – were marked by the immobilization at the side of the track of the car of the Thai Alexander Albon, visibly a victim of a technical problem.
The incident caused a red flag for a few minutes, time to evacuate the FW46 off the track.
A second free practice session is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m.
1D free practice session
- Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1: 16,990 (29 laps)
- George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1: 17,094 (28)
- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1: 17 120 (25)
- Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1: 17,233 (23)
- Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1: 17,240 (21)
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 1: 17,388 (29)
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:17,408 (27)
- Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1: 17,602 (17)
- Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1: 17,807 (25)
- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1: 17,867 (18)
- Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1: 17,905 (21)
- Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1: 18,072 (22)
- Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 1: 18,142 (26)
- Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1: 18,612 (29)
- Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari) 1: 18,667 (31)
- Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari) 1: 18,827 (23)
- Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari) 1: 19,129 (18)
- Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:19,901 (22)
- Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1: 20,050 (8)
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1: 21,059 (20)