World championship leader Oscar Piastri narrowly set the pace from McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in a competitive Practice One session as the grid’s big teams all revealed upgrades to their cars at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
With historic Imola representing the first European round of the season – and the first of three grands prix in as many weeks to kick-off a crucial period of the campaign – this race weekend has long been identified as the one where teams were always likely to bring their first significant update packages of 2025.
And it was title leaders McLaren who took early honours on the timesheet courtesy of Piastri and Norris, although just 0.096s separated a top five which featured three other teams.
Piastri set the pace on a 1:16.545 to finish just 0.032s ahead of Norris.
But Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton all wound up within a tenth of a second of Piastri’s benchmark too.
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Max Verstappen thumped his steering wheel in frustration after oversteering the car during practice one of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Hamilton had earlier reported difficulty slowing down Ferrari’s car on the brakes and midway through the session ran across the grass at the Variante Alta chicane. Team-mate Charles Leclerc, who had missed Thursday’s media day due to illness, was 12th quickest.
Max Verstappen was only seventh and 0.3s back and was heard over Red Bull team radio complaining about the upgraded car’s rear end. The Dutchman even briefly banged his steering wheel in apparent frustration at one point late in the session.
Red Bull have introduced changes to the car’s engine cover and sidepods for this weekend, revisions which have been likened to McLaren’s title-leading MCL39 in design.
“The track was evolving pretty quickly,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to Sky Sports F1.
“We didn’t get clean laps or a proper lap in on those second set of tyres.”
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Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso almost collided with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during opening practice at Imola
After a tumultuous week following the last race in Miami which saw team boss Oliver Oakes leave and Jack Doohan lose his seat to Franco Colapinto, Alpine’s weekend began more solidly on track with Pierre Gasly finishing sixth fastest.
Colapinto was 17th, 0.7s away from his team-mate, and will now hope to close the gap from there as he builds up his confidence in the team’s car.
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Jacques Villeneuve and Jamie Chadwick discuss Alpine replacing Jack Doohan with their reserve driver Franco Colapinto
The session was red flagged with two minutes to go when Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto ran off the road and hit the barriers exiting the second of the two Rivazza corners towards the end of the lap.
It was an unfortunate end to an otherwise encouraging opening session for Sauber, who finished ninth and 10th quickest with Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg respectively.
What’s new on the leading cars as development race hots up?
For their first of two home races this season, underperforming Ferrari‘s bid to start turning around their year has seen them introduce what Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz described as “small but they hope significant” changes to the rear of the SF-25.
Those changes include a different rear wing this weekend for increased downforce and changes to the car’s rear corners.
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Ted Kravitz outlines what upgrades the teams have made ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Red Bull have introduced a McLaren-like reprofiled engine cover and air inlet onto their RB21, in addition to rear suspension and rear corner revisions, while McLaren‘s pacesetting challenger also features changes at its rear plus a new front suspension.
Mercedes, meanwhile, have focused their changes for Imola at the front of their car through suspension and wing alternations.
Struggling Aston Martin have unveiled the biggest package of changes with Stroll running seven new items on his car in opening practice session, while Alonso compared performance in the older spec.
Only Williams – who have already shifted development focus to the big 2026 changes despite their much-improved start to the season – and Sauber have not introduced any new parts.
Sky Sports F1’s Emilia Romagna GP Schedule
Friday May 16
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3:40pm: Emilia Romagna GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday May 17
9am: F3 Sprint
11:15am: Emilia Romagna GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: EMILIA ROMAGNA GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Sunday May 18
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP build-up
2pm: The EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Emilia Romagna GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
