McLaren dominated Friday practice at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri leading teammate Lando Norris in a team one-two.
The Australian championship leader, who sits 16 points ahead of Norris in the standings, was quickest in both sessions.
Piastri, who has contributed to McLaren's impressive tally of four wins from the opening six races of the season, finished the day just 0.025 seconds faster than his British teammate.
The McLaren pair have established themselves as the team to beat in Imola, continuing their strong form that has propelled them to the top of the drivers' championship standings.
Their pace throughout Friday suggests the Woking-based team could be set for another strong showing this weekend as they look to extend their advantage in both championships.
Oscar Piastri set the pace in both practice sessions in Italy
Reuters
Alpine's Pierre Gasly delivered a surprise performance to claim third place, finishing ahead of George Russell's Mercedes in fourth. Red Bull's Max Verstappen could only manage fifth fastest in his upgraded car.
Charles Leclerc was the leading Ferrari in sixth position, whilst his teammate Lewis Hamilton struggled with braking feel and finished down in 11th place.
Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar impressed with the seventh fastest time before later spinning off at the Tamburello chicane, causing a red flag interruption to the session.
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Yuki Tsunoda took eighth in the second Red Bull, with Williams driver Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz completing the top ten.
Further down the order, Lance Stroll, tasked with testing Aston Martin's major upgrades, including a new floor, could only manage 17th place, whilst teammate Fernando Alonso was 14th and 0.121 seconds quicker in the previous-specification car.
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Lewis Hamilton struggled with his brakes on his Ferrari
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While Ferrari appeared to struggle for single-lap pace, both Leclerc and Hamilton showed competitive race pace during the longer runs, matching the McLarens in this crucial performance metric.
Verstappen, despite Red Bull bringing upgrades to Imola this weekend, was notably off the pace during the long runs. The Dutchman was even slower than Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes, suggesting the championship-winning team may be facing unexpected challenges with their new package.
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The teams' race simulations were disrupted when Hadjar lost control exiting the Tamburello chicane and spun into the barriers. Although his car appeared largely undamaged, he became stuck in the gravel while attempting to rejoin the track.
The session did restart after the red flag period, but only allowed time for some drivers to complete a single flying lap before practice concluded.
