Lando Norris powered through the morning session on Saturday, May 17, 2025, setting the fastest time in the third practice for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, solidifying McLaren’s status as the team to beat. His lap of 1m14.897 placed him ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and three-time champion Max Verstappen, who rounded out the top three. The session, held at the iconic Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit, showcased a fiercely competitive field, with the leading trio separated by less than two-tenths of a second. Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, driving for Sauber, ended the session in 16th, 1.1 seconds off the pace.
The practice session saw teams experimenting with varied strategies, switching between medium and soft tires to fine-tune setups for the Imola track. Verstappen, who led early in the session, showed strong pace but was overtaken by Norris in the final minutes. Piastri, just 0.100 seconds behind his teammate, underscored McLaren’s dominance. The qualifying session, scheduled for 11 a.m. Brasília time, promises a thrilling battle for pole position.
Midfield runners like Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc also impressed, posting times within six-tenths of Norris. Meanwhile, teams like Aston Martin and Alpine struggled to keep up with the frontrunners. Bortoleto, in his debut Formula 1 season, continues to adapt to the Sauber, but faced challenges matching the pace of the leaders.
Key highlights from the third practice:
- Lando Norris: Fastest lap at 1m14.897, cementing McLaren’s favoritism.
- Max Verstappen: Competitive on both medium and soft tires, 0.181 seconds behind.
- Gabriel Bortoleto: 16th place, 1.1 seconds off Norris’s time.
- Midfield battle: Antonelli and Leclerc within 0.6 seconds of the leader, signaling a tight grid.
Tight margins set the stage
The 0.181-second gap between Norris and Verstappen in the third practice hints at an unpredictable qualifying session in Imola. Norris, who showed strong pace in earlier sessions, capitalized on soft tires in the final minutes to secure the fastest lap. McLaren, with aerodynamic upgrades introduced for this race, appears to have nailed the setup for the Italian circuit. Piastri, just 0.100 seconds behind, reinforces the team’s consistency, having topped all practice sessions so far.
Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, started the session on medium tires and led the first third of the practice. Switching to softs later, he couldn’t match Norris’s pace, finishing nearly two-tenths back. Still, his consistent lap times keep him in contention for pole. Red Bull, which won in Imola in 2023 and 2024, is banking on fine-tuning to close the gap in qualifying.
Other drivers, like Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, posted competitive times, trailing Norris by 0.502 and 0.554 seconds, respectively. Antonelli, a rookie, continues to impress with his quick adaptation, while Leclerc aims to capitalize on Ferrari’s home advantage. Williams, with Carlos Sainz in sixth, also showed progress, just 0.560 seconds off the lead.
Brazilian performance in Imola
Gabriel Bortoleto, the sole Brazilian on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, faced a challenging third practice session. The Sauber driver, who crashed in Friday’s first practice, managed clean laps but finished 16th, 1.149 seconds behind Norris. His best lap, set late in the session on soft tires, allowed him to outpace drivers like Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg, but highlighted Sauber’s struggle to compete with top teams.
Bortoleto spent significant time in the pits, tweaking the car after Friday’s incidents. Sauber, undergoing a transitional season with changes in management and technical staff, is still searching for consistency. The Brazilian, however, showed promise earlier in the weekend, finishing ninth in the first practice, and remains focused on gaining experience in his rookie year.
McLaren in the spotlight
McLaren arrived in Imola with significant upgrades to the MCL39, including a new floor and diffuser, which have clearly boosted performance. Norris and Piastri topped all three practice sessions, a rare feat in the closely contested 2025 season. The team’s consistency, paired with a dialed-in aerodynamic setup, positions McLaren as the favorite for pole and potentially the race win on Sunday.
The team’s performance in the third practice was standout:
- Norris: 1m14.897, the session’s fastest lap.
- Piastri: +0.100 seconds, showcasing McLaren’s strength.
- Gap to fourth: Over 0.4 seconds, a significant margin.
McLaren also benefited from favorable weather, with mild temperatures and a dry track, ideal for maximizing soft tire performance. The team, with two wins in 2025, aims to solidify its status as a championship contender in Imola.
Red Bull keeps the pressure on
Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion, didn’t top the third practice but remained a strong contender. His lap of 1m15.078, 0.181 seconds off Norris, showed Red Bull’s competitiveness on Imola’s technical layout. Verstappen, who won the Emilia-Romagna GP in 2023 and 2024, knows the track well and is banking on setup tweaks to challenge for pole.
Red Bull tested various configurations, with Verstappen alternating between medium and soft tires. The team focused on qualifying simulations, with consecutive fast laps. Though unable to beat McLaren, Verstappen finished ahead of Leclerc and Antonelli, cementing his place among the frontrunners.
RB, Red Bull’s sister team, also performed well, with Isack Hadjar in seventh, 0.611 seconds off the lead. Hadjar, who briefly led early in the session, continues to grow in his rookie season, while Yuki Tsunoda, in 17th, struggled to find pace.
Ferrari chases home glory
Ferrari, buoyed by the passionate tifosi in Imola, delivered a solid third practice, with Charles Leclerc in fifth and Lewis Hamilton in tenth. Leclerc, 0.554 seconds behind Norris, was the team’s fastest driver, while Hamilton, still adapting to Ferrari in his first season with the team, trailed by 0.890 seconds. Ferrari, with wins in Monaco and Australia in 2025, is targeting a strong result on home soil.
Leclerc ran an aggressive setup, prioritizing high-speed sectors, and posted consistent laps on soft tires. Hamilton focused on car stability, particularly in Imola’s slower corners. Ferrari, which introduced upgrades to the SF-25 for this race, hopes to improve in qualifying to fight for a podium.
Rookies shine
The 2025 Formula 1 season features several rookies, and the third practice in Imola highlighted their potential. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, just 19, was fourth fastest, 0.502 seconds off Norris, cementing his status as a rising star. His ability to match teammate George Russell’s pace has turned heads.
Other rookies also stood out:
- Isack Hadjar (RB): Seventh, 0.611 seconds back, with strong early laps.
- Oliver Bearman (Haas): 12th, 1.047 seconds off, showing steady improvement.
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): 16th, still finding his footing but with clear potential.
The influx of young talent reflects Formula 1’s generational shift, with teams investing in drivers from junior categories. Antonelli, in particular, has drawn praise for his poise and speed.
Midfield struggles
While McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari dominated the top, midfield teams faced challenges in the third practice. Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso in 11th and Lance Stroll in 13th, was over 0.9 seconds off the pace, suggesting their Imola upgrades haven’t yet delivered. Alonso, a two-time champion, worked on suspension tweaks but couldn’t unlock competitive laps.
Alpine, with Pierre Gasly in 15th and Franco Colapinto in 18th, also had a quiet session. Gasly struggled with traction on medium tires, while Colapinto, another rookie, is still adapting to the car. Haas saw Oliver Bearman in 12th, but Esteban Ocon, in 20th, was the slowest, 1.490 seconds behind Norris.
Tires and strategy in focus
Tire choice was a key factor in the third practice, with teams alternating between medium (C3) and soft (C4) compounds to prepare for qualifying and the race. Pirelli, the official supplier, provided these compounds for Imola, and drivers leaned heavily on softs for fast laps. Norris and Piastri set their best times on C4s, while Verstappen used C3s early in the session.
Team strategies varied:
- McLaren: Prioritized soft-tire runs for qualifying simulations late in the session.
- Red Bull: Tested mediums for race pace before switching to softs.
- Ferrari: Mixed compounds, with Leclerc focusing on softs.
- Sauber: Bortoleto ran softs but spent time in the pits for setup changes.
Tire management will be critical on Sunday, as Imola’s abrasive surface accelerates wear, particularly in high-speed sections.
Imola’s storied history
The Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit, host of the Emilia-Romagna GP, is a 4.909-km track with 19 corners, blending long straights and technical curves like Tamburello and Acque Minerali. Known for its challenging layout, Imola demands a balanced setup for speed and stability. The track, back on the calendar since 2020, has a history of dramatic races.
Max Verstappen dominated Imola in 2023 and 2024, but McLaren is poised to challenge that streak, given their practice dominance. Ferrari, cheered by local fans, dreams of a home win, last achieved by Michael Schumacher in 2006.
Qualifying expectations
The Emilia-Romagna GP qualifying, set for 11 a.m. Saturday, will shape Sunday’s grid. McLaren is the favorite, but Verstappen and Red Bull have a knack for shining in crunch moments. Ferrari, with Leclerc in form, could spring a surprise on home turf.
The midfield, led by Antonelli, Sainz, and Hadjar, promises tight battles for fourth to tenth. Bortoleto, despite his 16th-place practice finish, could improve in qualifying if Sauber finds a better setup. The session will be broadcast live with real-time coverage.