'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The first day of the 2024 F1 Imola GP has left the fans with hope and expectation of what could be possible this weekend. An era that has been marred by Red Bull dominance saw the team lose in a straight fight for the first time since 2022.
Coming to the F1 Imola GP race weekend much was made about the Ferrari upgrade. A lot was said about Red Bull hoping to bounce back. The two free practice sessions have been done and dusted. What did we learn? Let's take a look.
Trending
2024 F1 Imola GP FP1 and FP2: Key Learnings
#1 We might have a battle at the front
The biggest indication of how the weekend could pan out was the timing sheet after Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen did their first run in FP2. The three drivers were within a tenth of each other. It is a sign that the three teams are starting to close up at the front.
The first day of the F1 Imola GP has shown that both McLaren and Ferrari upgrades have helped close the gap to Red Bull at the front.
#2 Red Bull and Max Verstappen are struggling
What if we told you that out of the three teams that are at the front, Red Bull is the only one on a slippery slope. The car never looked that good in the second sector of the track all day. This is something that needs to be worked on.
After the first day of running in the F1 Imola GP, Red Bull is the team that has the biggest question mark on it.
#3 Mercedes is in a better shape at Imola
Mercedes looks in better shape as the drivers can push the car better this weekend. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell looked comfortable in the car all day and that's certainly a good starting point.
Having said that, does it mean that Mercedes could challenge the top 3? Possibly not. There's still some work that needs to be done to accomplish that. For now, though, the team is in great shape for the rest of the weekend.
#4 Aston Martin seems to have regressed
Aston Martin brought as many as nine different new parts to the car this weekend. If you look at the car, the lap times, or even the general body language of the team, it was hardly positive.
Aston Martin will have to seriously look at how it is approaching F1 because, at the Imola GP, it has started to show that it is hitting a cliff in terms of what is possible in that car.
#5 Yuki is flying, Daniel is struggling
The RB came alive at the F1 Imola GP this Friday, and it's safe to say that Yuki Tsunoda turned heads with his lap times. At the same time, teammate Daniel Ricciardo looks completely at sea in the other car and is not lapping anywhere close to Yuki. Interesting times ahead at RB as the Australian tries to rediscover his Miami sprint form.
