Mercedes ahead of Verstappen, Ocon on the mat

The dual Mercedes/Verstappen is already launched. Without any real surprise, the two starters of the German team and the Dutchman finished FP1 at the top of the timesheet.

On the track, it's Valtteri Bottas who was the fastest. The Finn in the No. 77 completed his best lap in 1’16”564 in the very last moments of the session. On the line, he beat his teammate Lewis Hamilton by 41 thousandths and Max Verstappen by only 58! Enough to foresee a three-way fight throughout the weekend.

Up close with Max in FP1 

His RB16B is looking in the Italian sunshine #ImolaGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/tNoz9h6hM3

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 16, 2021

With a reduced driving time for the first outing of the day, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the 4th fastest time in EL1. However, the Monegasque was unable to hold on to the remaining leading trio by more than two tenths.

At ease on the Imola track which he knows very well, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) completes the Top 5 just ahead Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) who set the same time as him, 1’16”888 for both men.

First representative ofAlpine in the ranking, Fernando Alonso settles for 7th place, almost 9 tenths behind Valtteri Bottas.

At McLaren, the session was very calm. On a different strategy, Daniel Ricciardo et Lando Norris respectively finished 10th and 13th, more than 1”2 from the lead.

These EL1s were also driven by track excursions and mistakes. Only 18th, Nikita mazepin (Haas) further tarnished his reputation on the track. The Russian found himself in the gravel trap on his first formation lap before hitting the wall at the pit entrance after the checkered flag.

An early spin for Nikita Mazepin in his first European FP1

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton goes quickest just over ten minutes into the session #ImolaGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/zWGcRZ20O8

- Formula 1 (@ F1) April 16, 2021

Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) for their part were unable to complete the session. The two men stopped after turn 6. If a production problem prevented them from discovering the origin of their problem, a collision could be the cause of the incident.

RED FLAG 

The session is halted as Sergio Perez has a problem with his rear left wheel – and Esteban Ocon suffers collateral damage 

Both are out of their cars and their FP1 is over #ImolaGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/aZKrVqdAGm

- Formula 1 (@ F1) April 16, 2021