Leclerc quickest as track trips up Verstappen, Hamilton and others

Charles Leclerc asserted his dominance by setting the pace in the inaugural practice session of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend at the Imola circuit.

In a challenging session marked by a lack of grip for most drivers, Leclerc managed to break the 1’17 barrier, showcasing Ferrari’s potential on their home turf. Notably, reigning champion Max Verstappen struggled to find his rhythm, echoing the sentiments of many drivers who grappled with the bumpy nature of the Italian track.

Under the radiant Italian sun, drivers faced tricky conditions with temperatures hovering around 23C. Grip issues were prevalent, with Sergio Perez, Zhou Guanyu, and Pierre Gasly among those experiencing unsettling bounces at the end of straights.

Mistakes peppered the session as drivers pushed the limits. Carlos Sainz Jnr and Logan Sargeant both ventured off-track at the Variante Alta chicane, while Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo encountered gravel excursions of their own.

Leclerc’s blistering pace on soft tires secured the top spot, edging out George Russell’s Mercedes by a mere tenth of a second. Verstappen showed flashes of speed but faltered with a crucial error at Variante Alta, hampering his chances of a late charge.

The session concluded with Leclerc leading the pack for Ferrari, followed closely by Russell and Sainz, emphasizing Ferrari’s resurgence. Red Bull’s Perez and Verstappen settled for fourth and fifth respectively, with Yuki Tsunoda impressing in sixth for the team.

Elsewhere, Ferrari protégé Oliver Bearman returned to the fold, logging valuable track time for Haas ahead of Nico Hulkenberg. Alexander Albon’s session ended prematurely due to a technical issue, while Lando Norris encountered a minor hiccup but soldiered on.

As the first practice drew to a close, Leclerc’s performance hinted at a competitive weekend ahead, setting the stage for an intriguing Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.