Watch F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix — Practice 2 Free.

What's at Stake

The second practice session at Imola serves as the definitive window for teams to evaluate high-fuel performance and tire longevity ahead of Sunday’s race. With the narrow nature of the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari making overtaking difficult, establishing a superior race pace during these long runs is vital for determining pit-stop windows and defensive strategies.

Form Guide

Heading into the European leg of the season, the grid typically sees a flurry of technical upgrades that can shift the established pecking order. Momentum is currently defined by the battle between the front-runners for aerodynamic efficiency, as teams look to carry over performance from the opening flyaway rounds into the more traditional, high-downforce demands of the Italian circuit.

Key Players to Watch

• Max Verstappen — The benchmark for consistency who will focus on perfecting his setup for the technical bumps and kerbs of the Imola layout.
• Charles Leclerc — Driving before the Tifosi, he will be under immense pressure to demonstrate that his car can maintain competitive tire life over a full stint.
• Lando Norris — A driver who has historically performed well at this track and will be looking to validate recent developmental gains in race trim.

Prediction

Expect the session to be topped by a driver focusing on a late-session soft tire qualifying simulation, but the real story will be the narrow gap in long-run averages between the top three teams. Ferrari is likely to show impressive single-lap pace, while Red Bull will likely emerge as the most stable car during the heavy-fuel simulations toward the end of the hour.