Oscar Piastri tops FP2 at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris in a McLaren 1-2. Red flag drama from Isack Hadjar at Tamburello Chicane.
What a day at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari! Under clear skies and ideal racing conditions, Oscar Piastri stole the show once again, leading teammate Lando Norris in a dominant McLaren 1-2 finish during the second Formula 1 practice session. The excitement didn’t stop there—Isack Hadjar triggered a late FP2 red flag that brought even more buzz to an already thrilling day. The pace was electric, the tension was high, and every moment felt like a scene from a high-speed blockbuster.
With Pirelli C6 tyres making their debut this weekend and most drivers dialling in qualifying setups, FP2 delivered a tantalizing preview of what lies ahead in this year’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Ready to dive in? Let’s take a look at everything that went down on Friday evening at Imola.
Table of Contents
| Sr# | Headings |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: A Perfect Friday for McLaren |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri’s Impressive Run in FP2 |
| 3 | Lando Norris Continues to Shine |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar’s Costly Spin at Tamburello Chicane |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz and Ferrari’s Mixed Fortunes |
| 6 | Max Verstappen: Quick but Not Untouchable |
| 7 | Red Bull Racing and Yuki Tsunoda Make a Statement |
| 8 | Mercedes: Russell Quick, Hamilton Struggling |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly & Alpine F1 Show Promise |
| 10 | The Young Guns: Colapinto, Bearman, Antonelli, and More |
| 11 | Tyre Talk: How Pirelli’s C6 Rubber Changed the Game |
| 12 | Traffic Troubles and Narrow Margins at Imola |
| 13 | F1 FP2 Results: The Full Standings |
| 14 | Qualifying Predictions: Who Looks Strongest? |
| 15 | Looking Ahead: Final Practice Session and Beyond |
| 16 | Conclusion: McLaren’s Momentum & The Road Ahead |
1. Introduction: A Perfect Friday for McLaren
What better way to kick off the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend than with a commanding McLaren 1-2 in both practice sessions? After a stunning start in FP1, the Woking-based team repeated the feat in FP2, cementing their status as serious contenders. Friday wasn’t just about lap times—it was about laying the foundation for a powerful weekend performance.
2. Oscar Piastri’s Impressive Run in FP2
Oscar Piastri is proving he’s no longer the quiet rookie in the background. With a blistering lap of 1m15.293s, he claimed the top spot in F1 FP2 results and sent a clear message to the rest of the grid. Smooth, calculated, and razor-sharp, Piastri looked like a seasoned pro as he nailed sector after sector, making the most of the Pirelli C6 tyres.
3. Lando Norris Continues to Shine
While Piastri topped the timesheets, Lando Norris was right on his heels. He led early in the session, briefly reclaiming P1 with a 1m15.318s before a small oversteer at the final turn cost him a final attack. His confidence and synergy with the car show that McLaren now has not one, but two serious title fighters in the making.
4. Isack Hadjar’s Costly Spin at Tamburello Chicane
The Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar was having a strong session—running in an impressive seventh—until he found the gravel trap at Tamburello Chicane late in the session. The incident caused the FP2 red flag, halting proceedings with just six minutes left. Though he avoided major damage, his car was beached, ending his day prematurely.
5. Carlos Sainz and Ferrari’s Mixed Fortunes
Carlos Sainz was the first driver to dip under the 1m16s mark and was running strongly before slipping down the order to finish in the top ten. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc struggled with braking issues and couldn’t maximize the Ferrari SF-25’s potential. For the Tifosi, Friday ended with more questions than answers.
6. Max Verstappen: Quick but Not Untouchable
The reigning champ Max Verstappen had a solid session, just 0.042s off the early pace set by George Russell. However, he wasn’t fully satisfied, noting problems with bottoming out through Turns 11 and 12. Verstappen looked quick, but perhaps not dominant, especially on a track where overtaking is as tricky as threading a needle while blindfolded.
7. Red Bull Racing and Yuki Tsunoda Make a Statement
Yuki Tsunoda put in a quietly strong performance, briefly running in the top three before finishing behind teammate Hadjar. Red Bull’s sister team showed real pace, even if the final standings didn’t quite do them justice. Expect fireworks from Tsunoda as he looks to bounce back in Qualifying predictions.
8. Mercedes: Russell Quick, Hamilton Struggling
A tale of two drivers at Mercedes. George Russell looked comfortable and quick on the new soft tyres, topping the session early on with a 1m15.693s. But Lewis Hamilton had a rough time—grappling with oversteer, traffic, and setup woes, ultimately finishing in 11th. The Ferrari transition is clearly still a work in progress.
9. Pierre Gasly & Alpine F1 Show Promise
Pierre Gasly was the surprise package, finishing third and showing signs that Alpine F1 may have turned a corner. Franco Colapinto, meanwhile, had an eventful session but held his own alongside much more experienced company. Gasly’s performance could inject new life into the team’s morale.
10. The Young Guns: Colapinto, Bearman, Antonelli, and More
From Ollie Bearman in 12th to Franco Colapinto battling with Verstappen at Tosa, and Kimi Antonelli’s near-miss with Tsunoda, the new generation showed they belong. Though Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson were further down the order, the rookies made headlines with raw pace and bold moves.
11. Tyre Talk: How Pirelli’s C6 Rubber Changed the Game
Making its debut at Imola, the Pirelli C6 tyre brought extra grip and speed to a technical circuit. Drivers quickly adapted, but the tyre’s limited life span caused setups to be finely balanced. As we head into Qualifying, this tyre could be the ace up someone’s sleeve—or the trap door.
12. Traffic Troubles and Narrow Margins at Imola
Imola is not known for its generosity in track width, and drivers were caught out more than once. Fernando Alonso nearly collided at Turn 1, and Lewis Hamilton found himself stuck behind slower traffic during his flying laps. Expect more of the same in Final practice session and Qualifying.
13. F1 FP2 Results: The Full Standings
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:15.293
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Liam Lawson (Kick Sauber)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
14. Qualifying Predictions: Who Looks Strongest?
It’s hard to bet against McLaren at this point. With Piastri and Norris locked in and the car dialed into Imola’s twists and turns, they are favourites. Red Bull and Mercedes will be lurking, but unless they unlock more pace overnight, Qualifyingcould be McLaren’s to lose.
15. Looking Ahead: Final Practice Session and Beyond
Saturday’s Final practice session will be crucial. With very little margin separating the top ten, setup adjustments and clean runs will be the keys to a strong Qualifying. And don’t forget—weather at Imola can flip in a heartbeat.
16. Conclusion: McLaren’s Momentum & The Road Ahead
With Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locking down both practice sessions, McLaren have delivered a perfect Friday at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The red flag caused by Isack Hadjar added late drama, but it didn’t overshadow the papaya parade at the front. Saturday promises even more action as drivers prepare to fight for grid position in one of the tightest and most technical tracks on the F1 calendar. Buckle up—the weekend is just getting started.
FAQs
1. Why was the FP2 session at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix red-flagged?
Isack Hadjar spun into the gravel at Tamburello Chicane, triggering a red flag with six minutes to go.
2. Who topped the F1 FP2 results at Imola?
Oscar Piastri led the session, followed closely by McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a strong 1-2 finish.
3. How did Lewis Hamilton perform in FP2 at Imola?
Hamilton struggled with oversteer and traffic, eventually finishing 11th in a difficult session for Ferrari.
4. Which rookies impressed in the FP2 session?
Isack Hadjar led the rookies in 7th, with strong showings from Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto as well.
5. What are the expectations for qualifying at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix?
McLaren looks strongest heading into qualifying, but Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari will look to close the gap in FP3.
