Fernando Alonso caused the first interruption at Rivazza, resulting in the first red flag, while Sergio Perez was responsible for the second incident, with only eight minutes remaining in the session. This accident affected the final qualifying laps of all drivers, except Piastri, who managed to set the fastest time just before Perez’s accident.
Although the damaged Red Bull was quickly removed, there were only two minutes left on the clock, allowing only Lando Norris to complete a lap. He improved his time and secured the second fastest position behind his teammate.
The events on Friday at Imola provided some intriguing observations. Ferrari showed their dominance in both FP1 and FP2, while McLaren displayed impressive speed without reaching the top times.
Ferrari introduced a significant upgrade for this weekend and, considering they had limited practice sessions to adjust their cars, their performance is commendable.
As for McLaren, this is the second weekend with the updated MCL38. Piastri is benefiting from the full package, having only part of it in Miami. It seems they are carrying the momentum from the previous race.
And Mercedes? They exceeded expectations on Friday, especially in FP2. However, it is important to note that Red Bull’s difficulties may have made the eight-time F1 champions look better than they really are.
Speaking of Red Bull, they seem to arrive consistently at each Grand Prix with a basic setup inadequate for the second consecutive weekend. Normally, they manage to improve from Friday to Saturday. Will this be the case in Imola?
According to reports, Red Bull decided not to practice pit stops on Saturday morning to focus entirely on adjusting the setup of their cars.
Aston Martin has remained discreet, despite also implementing a significant upgrade on their car. It remains to be seen how they will progress from this point.
Favorable weather conditions persisted on Saturday, with track temperature reaching 43 degrees Celsius during FP3, while the air temperature was at 23 degrees.
Teams wasted no time and hit the track to make the most of their final practice session before the important qualifying session.
Ferrari started their practice session on soft tires, while Red Bull opted for the mediums. Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers stayed out of their cars, taking their time before getting into action.
McLaren, Haas, VCARBs, and Saubers also remained in the pits during this period.
After just ten minutes into the session, Red Bulls and Ferraris took turns leading the pack. Verstappen made an early move, securing the second best time behind Leclerc, only 0.190s slower. Interestingly, Verstappen achieved this time on medium tires, while Leclerc used the softs. Could this mean that Verstappen is back in the game?
Meanwhile, Perez had a misjudgment at the chicane, hitting the curb hard and causing significant damage to his RB20.
With over 15 minutes into the session, only eight drivers had set lap times. However, the Mercedes duo, Hamilton and Russell, finally hit the track. Russell was soon joined by Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Verstappen had a little scare when he went off track at Rivazza, with one wheel in the gravel. However, he managed to continue. Alonso also encountered problems, hitting the curbs hard at turn 15.
Leclerc improved his time, but Sainz quickly took the lead, surpassing his teammate by 0.020s. Verstappen is now in third place.
With less than 40 minutes remaining in the session, all cars finally got into action. Norris, on medium tires, set the fourth fastest time behind Verstappen in third.
After 25 minutes, the session was interrupted with a red flag due to Alonso’s accident at Rivazza. He lost control of his car, hitting the barriers and damaging the rear and left suspension. Fortunately, Alonso walked away unharmed.
Replay footage revealed that Sargeant also had a moment at the penultimate corner, hitting the curbs hard and going into the gravel.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s initial efforts placed him in 16th position, over two seconds behind Sainz’s time. The seven-time F1 champion expressed his confusion, asking the team: “Where did those two seconds go?”
The session resumed quickly, with just under 30 minutes remaining.
Hamilton soon voiced his dissatisfaction with his W15, stating: “The car is too high.” On the other hand, Russell mentioned that his car was bottoming out at the end of the straight before turn 1.
At McLaren, Piastri missed his exit from turn 18 while on a fast lap with soft tires, causing him to go through the gravel and hit the curbs hard.
Hamilton also had a moment of being airborne at the chicane, with only one wheel remaining on track.
In the last eight minutes, the teams began their final qualifying simulations before the main event later this afternoon. Piastri initially took the lead, and as we awaited Perez, who was close behind, the Mexican hit the barriers at Variante Alta, resulting in the second red flag being raised.
However, the session resumed with just over two minutes remaining, and the drivers hurried to try a qualifying lap before time ran out. However, none of the top contenders managed to improve their lap times, and Piastri maintained his position at the top. Report in progress…
© 2024
Portugal wins the Euro Cup for the second time in history
The Portuguese national football team made history by winning the Euro Cup for the second time. The team led by coach Fernando Santos showed impeccable performance throughout the tournament, culminating in an exciting victory in the final against Spain.
From the beginning of the competition, Portugal demonstrated consistent and offensive football, securing important victories in the group and knockout stages. The team relied on great performances from its players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who stood out as the tournament’s top scorer, and Bernardo Silva, named the best player in the final.
The Euro Cup final was an exciting game, with both teams displaying high-level football. Portugal opened the scoring with a goal from Bernardo Silva in the first half, but Spain equalized soon after. In the second half, Ronaldo scored the winning goal, securing the title for Portugal.
Winning the Euro Cup is a milestone in Portuguese football history and represents the talent and determination of the team. The Portuguese national team showed its strength and overcame great adversities throughout the tournament, proving that it is one of the best teams in the world.
The victory in the Eurocup is also a personal achievement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who solidifies himself as one of the greatest players in the history of football. The Portuguese forward had a brilliant performance throughout the tournament, leading the team with his skill and leadership.
The celebration of the Portuguese fans was emotional, with thousands of people in the streets celebrating the victory. The Eurocup is a moment of unity and pride for the country, which comes together around its national team and celebrates the victory with great joy and enthusiasm.
Now, Portugal is preparing to face new challenges in international football, with the confidence and determination of those who know they can achieve great things. The Portuguese team showed its potential in the Eurocup and left a mark on the history of the sport. A promising future awaits the team and its fans, who are hoping for more achievements and moments of glory.
