EL1 – Leclerc and Ferrari on another planet in the rain at Imola

The F1 drivers were finally able to race at Imola for the only free practice session before qualifying, as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz posted the best times throughout the session.

Published on 22/04/2022 à 14:45

⁰ View comments)

EL1 – Leclerc and Ferrari on another planet in the rain at Imola

Charles Leclerc set the best time in EL1 at Imola, in the rain - @Florent Gooden / DPPI

Despite the doubts that may have remained regarding the good performance of this session, the drivers finally had the opportunity to drive for an hour at Imola this afternoon. Quickly, the track even dried enough to allow us to see the intermediates on the track. But the Ferrari remain on another planet, once again monopolizing the first two places, with a Charles Leclerc still in the lead during this only free practice session before qualifying at Imola.

Ferrari at ease, Haas too!

The session was obviously punctuated by numerous errors, however without major consequences. The Ferraris stood out, beyond their good times, by a few off-track or spins at the start of the session. But as the times went down, the track undeniably dried out. So much so that all the drivers put on intermediate shoes for the end of the session.

Carlos Sainz was the first to come into prominence, bettering previous marks by almost two seconds. Charles Leclerc was quick to imitate him, recovering the best time by a few hundredths in the process. It was also quite quickly an explanation between Ferrari, Leclerc sometimes offering the aspiration to Carlos Sainz to lower the mark once again.

ALSO READ: Fernando Alonso will test a new floor for Alpine in Imola

Si Max Verstappen was somewhat following the pace of the Italian single-seaters, no one appeared able to play spoilsport. THE Haas however showed a more than interesting pace, taking fourth and fifth place in the session, Magnussen et Schumacher in this order.

At the end of the session, Lando Norris triggered the only red flag of this hour of driving, a time stuck in the gravel trap. But the Briton managed to get out alone by ingeniously triggering reverse gear on his car, so little used by pilots, who knows why! Valtteri Bottas was not so lucky. The Finn came out in the same place as the young Briton, and like Alonso previously, by placing a wheel on the white line bordering the bend. An error which forced him to leave his car and return to the pits on his feet.

The French, although comfortable on a wet track, were discreet during this session. Pierre Gasly (12e) and Esteban Ocon (13th) are out of the top 10, more than five seconds from the lead.