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McLaren Dominates! Piastri Leads FP1 at F1 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
May 16, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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McLaren Dominates! Piastri Leads FP1 at F1 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 16, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice REUTERS/Florion Goga

The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend started with a bang as Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning lap to top the timesheets in Free Practice 1, leading a McLaren 1-2 and setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive weekend at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

Piastri’s lap of 1:16.545 edged out teammate Lando Norris by just 0.028 seconds, with both drivers looking confident and composed in their finely tuned MCL40s. McLaren’s strong performance was no surprise following their upgrades in previous races, but dominating the session with such authority has now firmly positioned them as the team to beat this weekend.

Sainz Surges for Williams

Hot on their heels was Carlos Sainz, who continues to turn heads with his performances for Williams. After stepping into a new leadership role within the team this season, the Spaniard delivered again, finishing just 0.052 seconds behind Piastri. It was a performance that underlined Williams’ evolution from midfield battlers to genuine podium threats in 2025.

Mercedes and Ferrari Show Promise

George Russell brought his upgraded Mercedes W16 home in fourth, showing promising signs that the Silver Arrows may be getting back into the fight. Russell’s car featured significant floor and rear suspension updates, which appeared to improve stability and traction at the technical Imola circuit.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, now donning Ferrari red, recovered from an early trip through the grass at the Gresini chicane to secure fifth place. Though he abandoned his quickest lap due to a minor off-track moment, his pace in sector one was the fastest of anyone, suggesting there’s more performance in the SF-25 yet to be unlocked.

Verstappen on the Back Foot

In a surprising twist, three-time World Champion Max Verstappen could only manage seventh, over three-tenths off the pace. The Dutchman, who has historically excelled at Imola, complained of instability at the rear of his RB21 and was heard telling his engineer that he was “drifting everywhere.” It’s an uncharacteristic position for the Red Bull driver, and all eyes will be on how his team responds heading into FP2.

Young Stars and Surprises

The session also spotlighted some of Formula 1’s rising talents:

  • Pierre Gasly was a standout performer in sixth for Alpine, showing improved form after a tough start to the season.

  • Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber’s rookie sensation, made a strong impression in ninth, but his session ended prematurely after he slid into the wall at the final corner, damaging the front wing.

  • Franco Colapinto, making his official F1 debut with Alpine, had a moment in the gravel but managed to regroup. He finished 17th but gathered crucial data and experience during the session.

  • Kimi Antonelli, the Italian hometown hero and Mercedes junior, ended up 13th in front of a home crowd, drawing cheers every time he appeared on the big screens.

FP1 Top 10 – Emilia-Romagna GP 2025

  1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:16.545

  2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.028s

  3. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +0.052s

  4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.096s

  5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.123s

  6. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.202s

  7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.360s

  8. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.385s

  9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) +0.471s

  10. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) +0.503s

A Weekend of High Stakes

With track temperatures rising and the grid looking more competitive than ever, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is already shaping up to be one of the defining weekends of the 2025 season. Piastri’s form, McLaren’s resurgence, Verstappen’s struggles, and the midfield shake-ups are setting the stage for an explosive qualifying session and a thrilling race on Sunday.

The fight for Imola supremacy is on. And the gloves are off. 🏁🇮🇹

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