Charles Leclerc (16) on track in his Scuderia Ferrari SF-24 ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit (Source: Scuderia Ferrari)
IMOLA, Italy – A race removed from Lando Norris’ breakthrough victory at the Miami Grand Prix, Formula 1 arrives in Europe to return to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, otherwise known as the Imola Circuit where Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz hope to take the battle to Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen with McLaren along in tow.
F1’s return to the Imola Circuit following a year hiatus due to torrential flooding a year prior has been a welcome return. The track reappeared on the schedule in 2020 after being dropped from the F1 calendar in 2007. Imola is a track filled with tragedy and controversy that has undergone major changes since 1994 in an attempt to avoid repeating the conditions that killed two drivers in the same weekend, including the legendary Ayrton Senna.
With F1’s first trip to Europe in 2024 it’s the first chance for some major technical upgrades. Entering the weekend, both Ferrari and Aston Martin headline the new upgrades with the Scuderia having the most drastic changes, taking a small page out of Red Bull’s book with Aston Martin having changes in multiple areas. Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Kick Sauber and Haas all have brought track-specific upgrades, while Visa Cash App RB decided not to bring anything for the weekend.
Entering the weekend, another seat for 2025 has been locked up. It was announced that Alex Albon will be sticking with Williams Racing in a multi-year deal that leads into the 2026 regulation changes. After leaving Red Bull at the end of 2020 and taking a year off, Albon joined the storied Williams team and has shown flashes of quick pace that suggest the chance that Williams might return to its former glory.
Following back-to-back race weekends with the Sprint Format, F1 returns to a more traditional setting at Imola, with the Friday sessions dedicated to just practice. While the session started off slowly, following a stalled-out Albon in his Williams, teams were ready to tackle the Imola circuit for the first time since 2022. Drivers spent the session finding the limits on track, sliding off into the gravel as they looked for the quickest time.
Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-24 during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 17, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Also joining the field in the first session would be Ferrari Junior driver, Oliver Bearman, returning to the F1 paddock following his impressive seventh-place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bearman took over Kevin Magnussen’s Haas in his first of six Free Practice 1 sessions across 2024.
The upgraded Ferrari was quite impressive in its first time on track in the opening session. Leclerc found himself at the top of the timing charts, holding firm in hopes of bringing Ferrari back to victory lane at Imola. A quick George Russell brought his Mercedes to second quickest, ahead of the other Ferrari of Sainz. The Red Bull Racing pair of Sergio Perez and Verstappen rounded out the top five in what seemed to be a preview of a difficult weekend for the dominant team.
Following a short break, cars returned to the track for the second practice, which saw even more action than the one before. Drivers were still working to find their cars’ limits on track, and there were even more moments when cars went through gravel. Also noted were a couple of moments between Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso with a slow-moving Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton before another moment between Hamilton and Verstappen a bit later.
Charles Leclerc (16) on pit lane in his Scuderia Ferrari SF-24 during practice ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit (Source: Scuderia Ferrari)
However, once again, Leclerc brought his Ferrari to the top of the timing charts, throwing down a gauntlet that the Ferrari looks to be the car to beat at Imola. Oscar Piastri followed in close behind in his McLaren, while Yuki Tsunoda claimed an impressive time to grab the third quickest lap of the session. The Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Russell rounded out the top five.
With the first two practices now in the rearview mirror, teams now turn their attention to the final practice and then the qualifying rounds to set the field for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Ferrari has shown impressive pace to claim victory, but it is to be seen if McLaren could go back-to-back or if Red Bull can claim the top step of the podium once again.
