Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1 of F1 Imola GP with Carlos Sainz third behind George Russell, with no Red Bull in the Top 3.
A heavily upgraded car for Ferrari and they delivered a 1-3 finish in front of the team’s home ground in FP1 of F1 Imola GP, with Charles Leclerc leading the pack after setting a 1m16.990s lap from Mercedes’ George Russell (1m17.094s).
The two did not have any moment per se, but Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz (1m17.120s) did so with many others. The two Red Bull cars were outside the Top 3 with Sergio Perez ahead of Max Verstappen in fourth and fifth, where the latter struggled big time.
It is not often for Verstappen to have moments but he did a couple of times especially in the middle sector around the Turn 10-11-12-13 section. The team affirmed of him having issues in the middle sector, but were unable to pin point why.
Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was sixth from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, where both had their moments in similar areas. In fact, the Brit had a half spin as well after riding on the kerb, but managed to keep the car in one piece throughout the session.
The McLaren pair followed in eighth and ninth where Lando Norris was ahead of Oscar Piastri, as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was 10th after a late soft tyre run. His teammate Lance Stroll was 12th behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who faced some pedal issues.
The other Alpine of Esteban Ocon was 14th behind Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, as FP1 runner Oliver Bearman slotted in 15th in the Haas of Kevin Magnussen. The Stake F1 Team pair of Valtteri Bottas was 16th from teammate Zhou Guanyu.
The Williams pair of Logan Sargeant and Alexander Albon slotted in 18th and 19th, but the Thai did not complete the session after a kerb moment shut his car down early in the running. He brought out the red flag, as Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg was 20th while running the new package.
In terms of the PU elements, Leclerc took his third ICE in as many as two races with Sargeant, Magnussen and Hulkenberg electing to take their second set. The trio took their second TC, MGU-K and ES, with Leclerc taking his third.
Ricciardo and Tsunoda, meanwhile, took their second ES and CE, while Verstappen and Perez took their second CE. Here’s PU elements list: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Emilia%20Romagna%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20New%20PU%20elements%20for%20this%20Competition.pdf
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