Imola FP2: Everything you need to know

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas topped the second practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed into the barriers and caused a red flag with just five minutes to go.

Key moments:

> Leclerc crashes at Turn 17 with five minutes to go, causing a red flag snap of oversteer
> Verstappen pulls off circuit after “something snapped at the rear” in opening 15 minutes of the session
> Top three very close, split by a difference of just 0.078s
> Ocon returns to the track after FP1 tangle with Perez

Leclerc crashed early into the corner at Turn 17, suffering with a sudden snap of oversteer and embedding the Ferrari into the barriers. Leclerc was unscathed but with just five minutes of free practice left, it was ruled that the session would not be restarted following the red flag.

🚩 RED FLAG: Session will not restart🚩

An unfortunate end to @Charles_Leclerc's session as the Monegasque driver hits the wall #ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/kVwdDOk31I

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 16, 2021

The Ferrari driver had been fourth fastest on the circuit prior to his off, ahead of his team-mate Carlos Sainz in fifth.

It was business as usual at the top of the timesheets for Mercedes, where Bottas set a time of 1m15.551s to claim the Friday honours.

He was ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who in turn was just ahead of AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly – with the top three separated by a margin of just 0.078s.

Behind the two Ferrari’s of Leclerc and Sainz was Sergio Perez, who was the only Red Bull driver to complete the session after Max Verstappen was forced out in the opening 15 minutes of running.

VSC has ended, we are green again 🟢

However, @Max33Verstappen's bad luck continues in Italy 😬#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/0pDaohGNhx

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 16, 2021

Verstappen slowed on the main straight and pulled off to one side, reporting that “something snapped at the rear”. A short virtual safety car period ensued while the Red Bull was recovered, with the issues ultimately attributed to a problem with the driveshaft.

Yuki Tsuonda was seventh ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, with Lance Stroll completing the top 10 for Aston Martin.

Imola FP1: Everything you need to know

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Esteban Ocon returned to the track following his FP1 tangle with Perez, finishing the day 11th while his team-mate Fernando Alonso was 13th, the two Alpine’s split by the Williams of Nicholas Latifi.

Further down the field were Sebastian Vettel in 15th and Daniel Ricciardo in 18th.

Haas’s Nikita Mazepin was the slowest driver of the day after suffering another batch of offs, complaining over team radio that he was “absolutely on ice”.

Practice 2 Results