Lando Norris set out to assert his first pole position since the 2025 season opening round on Saturday at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix by beating Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen for the fastest time in the final practice.
After being shaded by his championship-leading teammate Piastri in both Friday’s practice sessions at Imola, Norris turned the tables in the last session before the important qualifying hour at. 15.00-Live on Sky Sports F1.
Norris’ fastest time on the soft tires of 1: 14,897 was exactly one tenth of another faster than Piastri’s, though the latter best effort came on his second lap on Pirelli’s new softest composition when the performance from the tire would not have been as strong.
Red Bulls Max Verstappen was 0.181s back in third place, although he put his best time on the slower medium connection after not improving the red marked softs.
The Dutchman has turned McLaren into pole position at the last two Grand Prix, and three of the last four, and Red Bull again seems to have improved handling his RB21 after a difficult start in practice.
Verstappen was not the only driver who set his fastest time on the theoretically slower media, with Pirelli’s new C6 tire -the fastest connection in the Italian manufacturer’s reach, debuting on Imola this weekend -which turns out to be difficult to keep in the right operating window for the entire 3.05 -mile imola.
Track conditions are a little cooler on a clouder Imola on Saturday, but McLarens seems to have an advantage when Onus is on tire preservation.
However, Italy’s own Kimi Antonelli made a late improvement of softs to vault into the fourth for Mercedes, though it was still half a second behind Norris’ time with McLaren, who clearly remained the team to beat after a clean celebration of one-two finish through practice.
Charles Leclerc was once again the leading Ferrari driver in fifth place with Lewis Hamilton, who fought braking on Friday, three tenths further back in 10. After a session that included a mistake on the other Rivazza as he entered the gravel.
Williams ‘fine form continued with Carlos Sainz taking the sixth and Alex Albon ninth, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar jumped back from his Friday accident to take seventh ahead of the second Mercedes of George Russell.
“Lots to digest after this session,” said Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson.
“Which tire will you be on when it comes to qualifying?
“One thing that has been consistent is the two McLarens are out front. Not by a huge margin and Verstappen in third did its best lap time on the medium -sized tire.
“Can Red Bull get enough performance out of the car on Softs, as it looked like they were missing back then?
“We could look at another Suzuka style effort from Max Verstappen.”
Sky Sports F1s Emilia Romagna GP plan
Saturday, May 17
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.10: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying Building
15:00: Emilia Romagna GP Qualification*
17:00: Teds qualifying notebook
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Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Sunday 18 May
7.25: F3 FEATURE RACE
8.55: F2 Feature Race
12:30 pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP building
14:00: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
16:00: Controlled Flag: Emilia Romagna GP -Reague
17:00: Teds Notebook
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s European season begins with Emilia Romagna Grand Prix over the weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports With Now – No Contract, Cancel anytime