Watch F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix — Practice 1 Free.

What's at Stake

As the 2026 Formula 1 season moves into its European leg, Practice 1 at Imola serves as the critical proving ground for major technical overhauls. With the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari offering a high-speed, technical layout, teams must immediately validate their aerodynamic upgrades to remain competitive in the championship standings. This session is vital for establishing a baseline performance on a traditional circuit that punishes even minor setup errors.

Form Guide

Heading into the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the field remains tightly contested following the flyaway opening rounds. Momentum is currently split between the early championship leaders and the chasing pack, who have prioritized this weekend for their first significant development packages. Consistency across high-speed chicanes and heavy braking zones has been the deciding factor in recent podium finishes, making track acclimation during this opening hour essential.

Key Players to Watch

• The Championship Leader — Focus will be on whether their current mechanical advantage holds up against the influx of rival upgrades.
• Ferrari Drivers — Competing on home soil, the Scuderia will be under immense pressure to demonstrate that their Imola-specific floor updates provide a tangible lap-time gain.
• The Midfield Innovators — Keep an eye on teams that have struggled with drag in early rounds, as this session reveals if their new wing configurations can handle the Tamburello and Varianta Alta sections.

Prediction

Expect a busy and fragmented session as teams prioritize aero-rake testing and installation laps over pure qualifying simulations. The top of the timing sheets will likely be occupied by the most stable platform from the early season, as they will require less time to dial in their setup. A narrow gap of less than two-tenths of a second between the top three teams is probable by the end of the hour as they find their rhythm on the historic Italian tarmac.