F1 Imola GP: Norris Charges Past Piastri Before Qualifying

Lando Norris kept McLaren at the top of the timesheets in Saturday’s third practice session at the Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. Norris posted a lap of 1:14.897, leading his teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished only 0.100 seconds slower with a 1:14.997.

This strong showing from both McLaren drivers puts them among the favorites heading into qualifying. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, finished third in the final practice, 0.181 seconds behind Norris.

Verstappen had been quickest on the medium tires earlier in the session with a lap of 1:15.078. But when teams switched to the soft Pirelli C6 compound, he could not improve enough to regain the lead, missing out on the top spot in the last minutes of the one-hour session.

Track temperatures were high at Imola, and most teams waited before starting their runs. Lewis Hamilton was among the first to set a time, holding an early lead before falling back as others improved.

Young drivers also made their mark, with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar briefly topping the charts as the grip level went up. A few incidents occurred, including a minor spin for Liam Lawson at Tamburello, but the session stayed mostly clean.

Two Mercedes drivers showed different fortunes. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rookie, impressed by taking fourth place, over half a second behind Norris, while his teammate George Russell had a tougher time, finishing eighth after dealing with a rough ride in the Silver Arrow.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fifth, with Carlos Sainz, now driving for Williams, continuing his strong weekend performance in sixth. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completed the top seven, followed by Russell, Williams’ Alex Albon, and Hamilton rounding out the top ten.

Yuki Tsunoda struggled for grip, finishing 17th, and Franco Colapinto, newly back in the field, was 18th for Alpine. The top five separated themselves from the rest, while several drivers faced challenges adapting to the changing track surface, as detailed in this FIA technical analysis.

Qualifying is set for 4:00 pm local time at the iconic Italian circuit, which is expected to be the last time Formula 1 uses this venue for the near future. The final practice has shown McLaren’s speed as well as a competitive field, setting up an exciting battle for pole. For more on the history of the Imola circuit, visit the official Formula 1 circuit guide.

As the session ended, teams reviewed their data, preparing both cars and strategies for the crucial afternoon ahead. Fans can look forward to a tight and unpredictable qualifying, with Norris and Piastri leading the way after a confident run in FP3.

Several drivers faced challenges adapting to the changing track surface, which tested their skill and car setup throughout the session. For a deeper understanding of tire performance in varying conditions, check out this Pirelli motorsport report.

Carlos Sainz, now driving for Williams, continued his strong weekend performance in sixth, showcasing his consistency and pace. His recent comeback this season has impressed many fans and analysts alike. To learn more about driver performance metrics, refer to this MIT Motorsports research.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.