Official F1 Journal Formula 1 Friday round up - Imola

©Scuderia Ferrari media

Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin bring upgraded cars to Italy. The teams – bar Ferrari – only providing one of their cars with these upgrades to compare the new and old packages. Leaving RB as the only team to have not updated their car by round seven of the 2024 season.

Adding seven items purely to improve their aero dynamics Ferrari are seeing the benefits as Charles Leclerc topped the leader board during both practices on day one of the Emilia-Romagna grand prix. Following the no.16 Ferrari was Oscar piastri and Yuki Tsunoda.
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Not feeling the changes, the championship leader, Max Verstappen, finished his Friday in 7th position as neither Red bull managed to put their car in the top 3. Verstappen was among many drivers to push track limits, after being sent off-track in windy conditions.
Down the order Miami’s winner Lando Norris finished his day down in 12th.

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©Haas F1 team media

​Free Practice 1
Top 10 Results
1 LEC 1:16.990
2 RUS +0.104
3 SAI +0.130
4 PER +0.243
5  VER +0.250
6 TSU +0.398s
7 HAM +0.418s
8 NOR +0.612s
9 PIA +0.817s
10 ALO +0.877s
 
Home excitement started early this weekend in Italy with Leclerc and Sainz finishing the first session with the fastest and third fastest lap, split by George Russell in his Mercedes. The session didn’t belong to Leclerc, who went top with 20 minutes to go, as Russell and Sainz both saw the top spot throughout. Russell going fastest not long after a new kerb claimed him as a victim. Being one of many, including Ricciardo and Hamilton who shortly followed, to new kerbs and gravel traps at the track this weekend.   

Returning to the formula one paddock Ollie Bearman was one of the first on track. The brit completed his first of six planned FP1 appearances, replacing Kevin Magnussen at Haas to go 15th, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg who finished bottom of the pack after only completing  20 laps. later in formula 2 the Ferrari reserve driver put himself on the front row during quali.
Both Williams and kick Sauber driver pairings filling the positions between the Haas’s.

While packages provided support up the field, Williams were not receiving the same benefits as mechanical issues left Alex Albon in the grass and a red flag on display. Being one of only two teams, along with Kick Sauber, to not score this season, fp1 was defiantly not what Williams wanted.

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©Mclaren media

Free Practice 2
Top 10 Results
1 LEC 1:15.906
2 PIA +0.192
3 TSU +0.380
4 HAM +0.391
5 RUS  +0.405
6 SAI +0.517
7 VER +0.541
8 PER +0.646
9 HUL +0.920
10 ALO +0.932
 
After difficulties in FP1 Williams were the last to join the field, 20 minutes into the session. On track these issues continued as they ended the hour in 18th and 20th. Max Verstappen still unhappy with his car as he voiced his problems with his grip and eventually was back in the gravel. The Red Bulls finishing day one in 7th and 8th.

More positively Oscar Piastri, who has now received full upgrades on his Mclaren this weekend following from Lando Norris’s maiden win in Miami, was the closest to Leclerc with only 0.192s separating the two. While Norris was +1.074s behind the top spot, sitting in 12th.
Charles Leclerc managing to secure the fastest lap less than 15 minutes into fp2, even with his power steering causing him bother. Sainz started the session milliseconds behind his teammate but began to slip away from the Monegasque who continued to improve. This session the Spaniard allowed both the Mercedes to get times up on him, with Hamilton ahead of Russell in 4th and 5th.

Tsunoda held his top 3 position going into the final quarter of the session. Following the session car 22 received his first reprimand of the season after an investigation was launched against him for performing a practice start before the pit exit light.

Hulkenberg made immense improvements finding himself the ninth fastest lapt of fp2 after being the slowest in fp1. Kevin Magnussen was back in his car in 17th,  behind Valtteri Bottas in 16th. Zhou made no change staying in 19th.

Alonso completed the top 10 in 10th with fellow Aston Martin Lance stroll in 13th.
The Alpines finished side by side in 14th and 15th.
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This day of new packages and track additions looks to lead to a very exciting weekend.

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Bronwen Jones
Writer @ F1 Journal