Everything that happened in Emilia Romagna F1 GP practice

Formula 1 championship leader Oscar Piastri topped Friday practice for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as McLaren dominated both sessions.

Piastri, looking for his fourth consecutive victory this weekend, was quickest from team-mate Lando Norris in both FP1 and FP2.

Friday’s sessions saw the debut of Pirelli’s C6 compound, the softest of the Italian company’s range.

Australian Piastri used the red-walled rubber to top the times with a 1:15.293sec lap in second practice, although his flying lap included running into traffic, suggesting he had more pace in store.

Norris was just 0.025sec slower in the second McLaren, while Pierre Gasly was a surprising third in the Alpine, which is facing its first weekend with Flavio Briatore in charge following the exit of Oliver Oakes.

Mercedes‘s George Russell posted the fourth-quickest time, and while he was very close to the McLarens in FP1, the Briton finished four tenths behind in the second hour of running.

World champion Max Verstappen wound up fifth in the Red Bull ahead of the quickest of the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque was back in action after missing Thursday’s media commitments as he was feeling unwell.

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton had a difficult day and struggled with his brakes on his way to the 11th fastest time.

“These damn brakes, mate. These brakes are a problem,” said Hamilton on the radio during FP2.

The second session was red-flagged with seven minutes left after Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar spun out and got stuck in the gravel when trying to return to the circuit.

Alpine’s newcomer Franco Colapinto was 16th quickest on his return to the F1 cockpit.

First practice was mostly trouble-free, but the session ended under the red flag after Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto crashed at Rivazza 2 with some two minutes remaining. He was unhurt, but his car suffered front-end damage.

Emilia Romagna GP – FP2 results

Emilia Romagna GP – FP1 results