Ferrari Takes Charge in Wet Imola Practice Leclerc Leads 1-2

Charles Leclerc showcased Ferrari’s formidable pace on home turf, topping the timesheets in a challenging, wet first practice session for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. The Monegasque driver led a Ferrari one-two, with teammate Carlos Sainz Jnr securing second position, setting a strong precedent for Friday evening’s crucial qualifying session, which determines the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race.

A Soggy Start to the Imola Sprint Weekend

The Imola circuit, known for its historic and demanding layout, was thoroughly soaked as the Formula 1 cars ventured out for their inaugural laps of the 2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend. Prior to the F1 session, the track had already proven treacherous for the support categories. Formula 3’s practice session was repeatedly interrupted by red flags due to numerous incidents in the persistent rain, while the Formula 2 practice session was cancelled entirely, deemed too dangerous given the standing water. Although the rain had subsided by the time the pit lane light turned green for F1, the track remained saturated, presenting a stern test for all 20 drivers and their teams.

As the cars emerged from the garages, all opted for the full wet tyres, a necessary choice given the extreme conditions. Grip levels were minimal, making every corner a potential hazard. The unique challenges of the Imola circuit, with its high-speed sections and tricky braking zones, were amplified by the low-grip surface, promising an eventful and unpredictable session. The pressure was on, as this single practice session was the only opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars before the sprint qualifying, underlining its importance in this unique weekend format.

Navigating the Slippery Circuit: Early Incidents and Spin Cycle

The treacherous conditions quickly led to several notable incidents. Early in the session, Nicholas Latifi became one of the first drivers to experience the limits of grip, running wide at the notorious Tosa corner. Fortunately, the Williams driver managed to gather his car and rejoin the track with only minimal time lost and no significant damage, a testament to his quick reflexes in adverse conditions. However, it was Charles Leclerc, the eventual pace-setter, who provided some early drama, spinning twice within the initial 20 minutes of the session. His first pirouette occurred after he aggressively clattered the kerbs at the Variante Alta chicane, demonstrating the narrow margin for error. Later, he lost control again while exiting the challenging Acque Minerali complex, highlighting the difficulty even for the most in-form drivers.

The downhill braking zone for the first Rivazza corner, a fast left-hander, proved to be a particularly hazardous section. Sebastian Vettel had a close call, nearly running off the circuit, showcasing the fine line between pushing and exceeding the limits. Moments later, Lando Norris found himself in a similar predicament, sliding off the track and into the gravel trap. Although he managed to extract his McLaren and return to the pit lane, it served as a stark warning. Esteban Ocon also had a high-speed moment at Rivazza, narrowly avoiding beaching his Alpine in the gravel trap with an impressive save, underscoring the relentless challenge posed by the damp Imola asphalt. These early incidents underscored the perilous nature of the track and the delicate balance drivers had to maintain between pace and preservation.

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The Intermediate Gamble: Changing Fortunes on a Drying Track

As the session progressed towards its halfway mark, a subtle but significant change in track conditions began to emerge. The absence of rain meant that the circuit was slowly starting to dry, albeit in patches. This opened up the strategic possibility of switching from full wet tyres to intermediates. Sebastian Vettel was the first driver to take this gamble, pitting for a set of green-walled intermediates. His initial lap time on the new rubber was just over six-tenths slower than Sergio Perez’s fastest time set on the full wets, suggesting the intermediates might still be a bit too early. However, this bold move provided valuable data for other teams watching closely from the pit wall.

Within minutes, it became apparent that Vettel’s intuition was correct. The track was indeed evolving, and the intermediates were starting to unlock more lap time. Drivers who made the switch quickly found significant improvements. Charles Leclerc, despite experiencing a third spin of the session while exiting the Tamburello chicane – a testament to how close to the edge he was pushing – quickly adapted to the intermediates. He went fastest of all, and critically, continued to shave time off his laps with each successive attempt. His teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, also capitalized on the drying conditions and the optimal tyre choice, rapidly improving his own times to secure second place behind Leclerc, cementing Ferrari’s dominant position. This strategic transition from full wets to intermediates became a crucial turning point in the session, effectively reshuffling the pecking order and highlighting the importance of tyre management and quick decision-making in mixed conditions.

Red Flags, Late Drama, and Ferrari’s Dominance

With just five minutes remaining in the session, the red flags were deployed. Lando Norris, pushing hard, spun his McLaren into the gravel trap at Acque Minerali for the second time in the session. However, in a display of composure, Norris was able to successfully reverse his car out of the gravel, preventing it from getting beached. This quick recovery allowed the marshals to clear the track efficiently, and the session was restarted with a little over three minutes still on the clock. This brief resumption offered a final opportunity for most drivers to squeeze in a few more crucial laps, whether to practice launch procedures or to attempt a last-ditch improvement.

Despite the late scramble, the top drivers were unable to improve on their already impressive lap times. As the chequered flag waved, signifying the end of the session, Charles Leclerc remained firmly at the top, a commanding performance in front of the Tifosi. His teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, held onto second, completing a perfect Ferrari one-two. The leading Red Bull of Max Verstappen was almost a second and a half adrift of Leclerc’s blistering pace, settling for third. A surprising and highly commendable performance came from the two Haas cars, with Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher securing an impressive fourth and fifth place respectively, a further 1.5 seconds behind Verstappen, showcasing their car’s potential in these challenging conditions. Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull rounded out the top six.

The session concluded with another incident, as Valtteri Bottas spun his Alfa Romeo at Acque Minerale, identical to Norris’s earlier off. Unfortunately for Bottas, his car slid deeper into the gravel trap, making slight contact with the outer tyre barrier. Despite his best efforts to reverse out, much as Norris had successfully done, Bottas’s Alfa Romeo became stuck, forcing him to abandon the car. This underscored the unpredictable nature of the wet track right until the very end, and the fine margins separating success from an unfortunate incident.

Full Results: 2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix First Practice

Position	Number	Driver	Team	Model	Time	Gap	Laps
1	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	F1-75	1’29.402		24
2	55	Carlos Sainz Jnr	Ferrari	F1-75	1’30.279	0.877	25
3	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	RB18	1’30.867	1.465	20
4	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas-Ferrari	VF-22	1’32.439	3.037	23
5	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas-Ferrari	VF-22	1’32.988	3.586	22
6	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	RB18	1’33.012	3.610	17
7	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine-Renault	A522	1’33.160	3.758	13
8	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin-Mercedes	AMR22	1’33.365	3.963	22
9	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri-Red Bull	AT03	1’33.611	4.209	18
10	63	George Russell	Mercedes	W13	1’34.262	4.860	21
11	77	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo-Ferrari	C42	1’34.615	5.213	19
12	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri-Red Bull	AT03	1’35.104	5.702	19
13	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine-Renault	A522	1’35.420	6.018	14
14	4	Lando Norris	McLaren-Mercedes	MCL36	1’35.502	6.100	12
15	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren-Mercedes	MCL36	1’35.625	6.223	14
16	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin-Mercedes	AMR22	1’36.033	6.631	22
17	23	Alexander Albon	Williams-Mercedes	FW44	1’36.461	7.059	16
18	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	W13	1’36.464	7.062	17
19	24	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo-Ferrari	C42	1’37.450	8.048	21
20	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams-Mercedes	FW44	1’39.698	10.296	14

Looking Ahead to Qualifying

The results of the first and only practice session set a fascinating stage for the upcoming qualifying session. Ferrari’s clear dominance in the wet conditions, particularly with a one-two finish, will undoubtedly inject immense confidence into the team and their home crowd. Charles Leclerc’s raw speed, even amidst multiple spins, highlighted his ability to extract maximum performance from the car when it mattered. The significant gap to Max Verstappen suggests Red Bull may have work to do if similar conditions persist, or perhaps they were running a more conservative setup. The surprising strength of Haas also adds an intriguing element to the midfield battle.

As the weekend progresses, the weather forecast remains a critical factor. Should the track dry out completely for qualifying, the dynamics could shift once more. However, the lessons learned from this challenging practice session regarding tyre management, car setup for low grip, and driver confidence in adverse conditions will be invaluable. With the sprint qualifying format, every position gained in qualifying holds added significance for the championship battle. All eyes will now turn to qualifying, where the real battle for Saturday’s Sprint grid positions will commence, promising an exciting and unpredictable start to the racing action.

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