In contrast to the devastating floods that ravaged the region last year, the picturesque Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari was blessed with clear skies. This iconic circuit has a tragic history, as it was here that Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives in 1994. As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of their passing, their presence is felt more intensely than ever.
On track, both Ferrari and McLaren showed impressive speed on the first day of action. The Ferrari team unveiled a significant upgrade to their SF-24, which seems to have propelled them forward. Charles Leclerc, in particular, dominated the time sheets during both FP1 and FP2.
Likewise, McLaren made notable improvements, as seen in their triumphant performance at the Miami Grand Prix. Lando Norris, confident in his abilities, believes McLaren will perform even better at Imola compared to the Hard Rock Stadium.
Mercedes, although competitive, is uncertain on how to gain an extra edge. Traditionally strong on Fridays during Grand Prix weekends, they often struggle to unravel the secrets to increasing speed.
Surprising everyone, Yuki Tsunoda secured an impressive third place in the VCARB, surpassing all four Red Bull cars. It proved to be a frustrating day for the current world champions, especially for Max Verstappen, who struggled to find the ideal setup in the RB20.
Here are the post-Friday statements from the ten teams and their drivers at Imola:
Charles Leclerc, in first place: “Today was a positive day overall. Everything went well and we completed all planned tests on track. We seem to be quite competitive at the moment, although conditions will change significantly tomorrow, especially in terms of the wind, so we will need to anticipate that. The upgrades are working as expected, which is another positive point. It was fantastic to see so many red flags in the grandstands!”
Carlos Sainz, in sixth place: “The team had a good Friday. We had a strong FP1 and in FP2, we made some adjustments that seem to be heading in the right direction, and I was reasonably satisfied with the car. I couldn’t put together a clean lap on the soft tires, but I am confident that we are in a good position. After two Sprint weekends, it was beneficial to have time to test and try different approaches with the car, especially with a new package here. There is still work to be done before qualifying, but I am already looking forward to tomorrow.”
Team report: “Scuderia Ferrari HP had a successful and trouble-free Friday. The day’s schedule was full, focusing on evaluating the newly-introduced upgrade package on the SF-24 and setting up the car on a challenging track, especially with the less forgiving gravel traps. The new car parts worked as expected, and both Charles and Carlos showed competitiveness, both in terms of single flying laps – with Leclerc being the fastest in both sessions – and race pace. Of course, it’s only Friday and it’s too early to get excited, but the weekend on track at least started well.”
Oscar Piastri, in third place, commented on the conclusion of Friday’s activities. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating it was one of his best Fridays and they seem to be in a favorable position. Piastri mentioned the competitiveness of the field and his intention to further progress on Saturday. Overall, he felt comfortable throughout the day and is looking forward to tomorrow’s activities. Piastri also acknowledged the team’s efforts in implementing the remaining updates on his car.
Lando Norris, finishing in twelfth place, provided his assessment of the day. He described it as a reasonable day, although there were some interruptions along the way. They had a testing program to evaluate the recent Miami updates, which was crucial to incorporate. However, they encountered some minor issues that complicated the execution of their plan. Despite these challenges, Norris felt the car performed well and they made positive improvements throughout the day. He expressed optimism for tomorrow’s activities, believing they can have a successful day with further advancements.
Andrea Stella, the Team Principal, provided an overview of the day’s activities. He stated that it was a productive day, with no major issues on any of the cars, except for a small electronic problem on Lando’s car, which was promptly resolved. Stella highlighted their focus on investigating the package introduced in Miami during FP1. Due to time constraints in the Sprint event, they were unable to fully evaluate the aerodynamic updates. However, the initial results were in line with expectations, allowing the drivers to work on the car’s setup and gain a better understanding of the tires. Stella acknowledged that there is room for improvement and noted the good performance of other cars. However, both Lando and Oscar expressed satisfaction with their current position for the rest of the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton, in fourth place, expressed his satisfaction with the start of the weekend. The team had a productive day and managed to test all three tire compounds. The car’s balance was good, and Hamilton had a positive experience on the track. McLaren and Ferrari, in particular, showed impressive speed, but Hamilton noted that they are closer to their rivals compared to previous races this season. However, he emphasized the need to stay grounded and wait to see how Saturday’s session unfolds. Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the team back at the factory for their hard work in bringing updates to the car, which resulted in performance improvements.
George Russell, in fifth place, echoed Hamilton’s feelings about the car feeling great. Both drivers were pleased with their performance on track. Russell acknowledged that McLaren and Ferrari seem strong, but he hoped they could find more speed and close the gap. He emphasized that margins will be small and praised the team for their quick updates on the car, which he believes have advanced. Despite the recent challenging races, Russell highlighted the team’s motivation and determination.
Andrew Shovlin, the Trackside Engineering Director, described the day as productive at Imola. The car performed well in both sessions, and they were able to improve its balance throughout the day. The updates implemented on the car met expectations, which is encouraging. However, the team is aware of the significant gap that needs to be closed based on their experience in previous races. Shovlin expressed the intention to gradually reduce this difference through additional developments in future events. They still have areas to work on, both in terms of single lap performance and long race performance. Shovlin acknowledged that the differences to the leaders are not insurmountable, and they will diligently seek additional speed overnight.
Esteban Ocon, who finished in 14th place, expressed his satisfaction in returning to Imola and seeing the fans in the stands after a year without a race at this location. He also mentioned the importance of having more track time with two full free practice sessions. Throughout these sessions, the team was able to learn a lot and make significant improvements to the car compared to FP1. One area they need to address is the excessive bouncing of the car, which seems to be caused by the uneven surface of the track. They will evaluate the setup and make the necessary adjustments to limit the bouncing and improve performance for tomorrow’s qualifying.
Pierre Gasly, who finished in 15th place, described the training day in Imola as productive. The team conducted tests in the simulator last week in preparation for this race weekend, and these tests proved effective on the track today. Gasly expressed satisfaction with the progress made in both sessions and emphasized the importance of working hard overnight to prepare for future challenges. He also mentioned that the car is starting to feel more comfortable, allowing him to push harder and achieve consistent performance. Gasly is optimistic about the rest of the weekend and believes that more improvements can be made in the right direction.
Alex Albon, in 18th place, expressed his frustration with the lack of track time due to an electrical issue in FP1. Despite the setback, the team worked hard to resolve the problem and get the car back on track. Albon praised the performance of the car, feeling that it behaved exceptionally well. However, he acknowledged that there is still work to be done to improve his position. Despite the challenges, Albon remains optimistic and is enjoying the experience of racing on a proper track.
Logan Sargeant, in 20th place, also faced difficulties in FP2. He only managed to complete a few laps with low fuel, struggling to get the tires to work properly. Although the car’s balance is good, there are issues that need to be addressed to optimize performance. Sargeant expressed his admiration for the track, finding it exciting and challenging. Looking ahead to the race, he anticipates a tough competition, but is determined to give his best effort.
Sports Director Sven Smeets acknowledged the setbacks faced by both drivers. Alex Albon’s early stop in FP1 resulted in valuable time lost on the track. Despite the team’s efforts to get the car back on track, his race plan was compromised. Similarly, Logan Sargeant also faced a significant loss of race time in FP2, with only one lap on soft tires. Smeets emphasized the need for fine-tuning before qualifying, but expressed confidence in the drivers’ ability to perform well. He also highlighted the possibility of rain during the race, which could create opportunities for the team.
Valtteri Bottas, in 16th place, commented on the windy and bumpy conditions during the race at Imola. Despite the challenges, he expressed his excitement to be back on track. Due to the difficult conditions, some compromises had to be made with the car’s setup. The team will focus on evaluating the new components during tomorrow’s FP3 session. Bottas is optimistic that they can improve the car’s performance and be well prepared for qualifying.
Zhou Guanyu, in 19th place, also shared his thoughts on the race at Imola. He mentioned that it was good to return to the track after two years. The day proved to be more challenging than expected, with a red flag and changes to the car causing some lost time. However, the afternoon session went well. They tried different setups and still need to work on the car’s balance. Zhou is confident they can make progress tomorrow, especially with the new floor that will provide more downforce and grip.
The Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber returned to Emilia Romagna after a two-year absence. They found that the track had become bumpier since their last visit. The morning session was briefly interrupted by a red flag, but both drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, faced the windy conditions with enthusiasm. The team introduced an updated floor for the race, which has already been installed on Bottas’ car. Zhou will have the new parts installed on his car starting from tomorrow’s FP3 session. The team is confident in the positive progress they have made with the car and will continue working on the setup overnight.
Nico Hulkenberg, in ninth place, stated that earlier in the day they conducted some tests to collect aerodynamic data on the launch car compared to the current car. During the second practice session, they returned to the normal program and everything seemed satisfactory. The windy conditions made driving difficult, as the grip on the track was inconsistent, leading to the possibility of going off track. Despite these challenges, Hulkenberg expressed his enjoyment of the intense and fast Imola track.
Kevin Magnussen, in seventeenth place, described Imola as a fantastic track to drive on and expressed his pleasure in being behind the wheel. He acknowledged that it is not easy to have an immediate performance on this track, but he was not far from the top competitors. Magnussen emphasized the narrowness of the circuit, especially in the midfield, where the competition is fierce. He highlighted the small time differences between the drivers, with even a small difference of tenths of a second determining the positions. Magnussen compared Imola to a street circuit due to its rough and raw nature, which he personally enjoys.
Oliver Bearman, who finished fifteenth in the first practice session, expressed his satisfaction with his performance. Despite the session being shorter due to a red flag, Bearman quickly adapted to the car and credited his experience driving in F2 as helpful for a smooth transition. He attributed his comfort and confidence in the car to the work behind the scenes and the improvements made by the team. Bearman also mentioned a successful long run and praised the progress the team has made compared to the previous year. He expressed pride in the team’s performance so far and looks forward to his next opportunity to drive.
Ayao Komatsu, the Principal Director of the Team, praised Bearman for his performance in FP1, noting that he did a commendable job in getting familiar with the car. Komatsu mentioned that they used the session to gather data on the latest car package, so it was not a performance-focused session for Nico Hulkenberg. In the second practice session, Kevin Magnussen returned to the car, and Komatsu acknowledged that they are facing difficulties in certain corners, leading them to consider changes in the setup for the next day. However, Komatsu mentioned that their performance in lower speed corners is decent. They also identified limitations in high fuel load situations and planned to work on improving this aspect overnight. Despite the challenges, Komatsu noted that FP2 was an improvement over FP1, and they will analyze the necessary changes to improve their performance in the upcoming sessions.
Report in progress…
2024
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored an incredible goal during last night’s match. The Real Madrid player once again showed why he is considered one of the best in the world. With a powerful shot, Ronaldo made the ball hit the back of the net and secured the victory for his team. The crowd went wild with the goal and applauded the Portuguese star.
In addition to the goal, Ronaldo also had a flawless performance throughout the game. With his skill and speed, he dribbled past several opponents and created numerous goal-scoring opportunities. The player was instrumental in Real Madrid’s victory and received many praises from the sports media.
After the game, Ronaldo spoke about the importance of the victory and thanked the support of the fans. He highlighted the team’s unity and everyone’s determination in pursuit of a positive result. The player also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and continuing to work hard to achieve the goals.
With this goal, Cristiano Ronaldo is getting closer to becoming the greatest goal scorer in the history of football. The player already has an impressive number of goals and continues to break records in every match. His dedication and talent are admired by fans all over the world.
Real Madrid’s next match will be against one of the club’s main rivals. Expectations are high for another exciting confrontation. Fans hope that Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine and help his team achieve another victory. It will be a must-watch game for football lovers.
