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Formula 1 Emilia Romagna GP

F1 Imola GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying

Saturday's action from the seventh round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

F1 returns to Imola having cancelled last year's event following extensive flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region.

FP3 starts at 11:30am BST (12:30pm local time) followed by qualifying at 3:00pm BST (4:00pm local time).

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The session resumes with two minutes of running remaining.
But a queue at pitlane exit means everyone might not have time to set a lap time before the chequered flag comes out. The two Ferraris at the back of the pack are racing each other in order to get around in time.
Leclerc, Gasly and Piastri come so close to tripping over each other in order to start a lap before the chequered flag. But half the field won't get a lap in, including Russell, Verstappen and Hamilton.
Norris is the only driver to improve on that messy end to FP3 and he goes second fastest - 0.3s off Piastri. It is a McLaren 1-2 at the end of practice.
On Magnussen's final lap he had to take to the grass out of Acque Minerali as both RBs were dawdling in front of him. That one might be looked at by the stewards.
That messy end to FP3 didn't really reveal what is to come in qualifying. A McLaren 1-2 and a Ferrari 3-4 shows they'll be in the fight for pole, but will Red Bull or Mercedes join that tussle? And will Perez and Alonso have their cars repaired in time for quali following their crashes?
Piastri has been noted for the near-miss with Gasly and Leclerc, while all three of Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Magnussen have been noted for their incident a little later.
That FP3 had more action than most sprint races... which is ironic given that is the exact reason used in support of sprint races.
Both Alonso's Aston and Perez's Red Bull have just returned to the pits, so the respective teams are getting them back in the garages for a race to repair them for qualifying. They've got two hours and 15 minutes. Ready, set, go!
Here's the full report on an eventful Imola GP final practice.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

With that, it is time for a breather and a bite. We'll be back for the qualifying build-up, with Q1 starting at 3pm BST. Until then, go well!
Hello and welcome back to coverage of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
Qualifying is just around the corner!
McLaren secured a 1-2 in final practice earlier, where Alonso and Perez each crashed to trigger red flag periods.
Will that form continue into quali?
Aston Martin has been given a huge task by Alonso, who crashed at the second Rivazza.

“The team is still working flat out to get Fernando’s AMR24 ready for the start of Qualifying following his crash in FP3.”
Perez's incident was rather more subtle than the Spaniard's, just knocking the front wing at the Variante Alta.
He will have no issues in taking to the track.
Pole for Red Bull and Verstappen is by no means a given this weekend. 
The team has yet to top a session, with the Dutchman struggling for confidence behind the wheel.
Still frantic work ongoing at Aston Martin, with the floor still resting against the back wall of the garage.
The weather has been perfect so far this weekend and Imola will continue to be sun-baked for qualifying.
If you haven't been with us so far this weekend, there are a host of Ayrton Senna tributes, 30 years on from his passing at this circuit.
Gasly has a Senna-esque helmet which looks fantastic!
The grandstands are a sea of red as cars begin to fire up. Wonder who they are supporting...
Alonso is sat in his car but there is still work to do to get the car track ready.
Here we go, qualifying is underway with Q1.
The Alpine duo lead the queue of cars out.
There were a number of near misses at the end of FP3 when the track got busy.
How will the drivers stay out of the way of each other here?
The Ferraris waited for a gap before leaving the pits, with both drivers on mediums.
Both Mercedes drivers are also on the yellow-walled tyres.
Russell boxes straight away at the end of his first flying lap - that's intriguing.
Hamilton was on softs, as the computer updates, and goes second, behind Ocon's early effort.
So Ocon sits top early on from Hamilton and Stroll. Sainz is not as fast as the Frenchman on his medium run but Leclerc is flying.
Sainz goes fourth, Leclerc goes fastest!
"The team has worked tirelessly to repair Fernando’s AMR24 and we are pleased to confirm that he will be able to take part in this afternoon’s Qualifying session."

Alonso is on track for Aston Martin.
Albon was on a stunner to start his qualifying session but the Williams driver ran wide at Rivazza 2 and ruins his effort.
Norris had a huge swap of oversteer at the same corner but goes fastest with a 1m16.194.
Perez is next across the line and slots into second, two-tenths down on Norris.
Verstappen is way faster than his team-mate though...
Next up is Piastri. He didn't have the full upgrade package in Miami but has shown he has the pace with fastest in FP3.
And Piastri is the first driver into the 1m15s, just 0.073s up on Verstappen.
Six drivers are yet to set a time so far, make that five as Russell crosses the line to go third.
Tsunoda's strong practice form is represented as he goes fifth, while Stroll goes seventh.
Gasly has just set the fastest middle sector of anyone to go fourth fastest, splitting the Ferraris, which just crossed the line on another medium run.
Hamilton goes only 12th with his latest try, as Sargeant runs into the gravel at Villeneuve.
Piastri has been knocked off top-spot by team-mate Norris, who is now just 0.025s faster.
It has been a scruffy day for Alonso, who has found himself in the gravel again!
This time it's a mistake on the exit of Tamburello, but unlike earlier, he avoids contact with the barriers.
Just Albon on track with 4:30 left on the clock. He sits 19th currently after his error on his first run.
It's not a great first sector from the Williams driver but a PB helps in sector two.
That's enough for 12th fastest by the end of the lap, demoting Magnussen to the elimination zone.

By: Autosport Staff

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