P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The championship leader topped both free practice sessions on Friday at Imola, leading team-mate Lando Norris in both sessions.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri believes his main competition for pole position at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix goes beyond just his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. Piastri and Norris led the Friday sessions at Imola, a track where the McLaren tends to excel on Fridays but faces tough competition in qualifying. Although Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has secured three pole positions in the season so far, Piastri managed to win the races in Saudi Arabia and Miami. Piastri aims to achieve a fourth consecutive win at Imola to match the historic McLaren record set by Ayrton Senna. While satisfied with the car’s performance, Piastri acknowledges the need for improvements ahead of Saturday’s crucial qualifying session. Despite recognizing Norris as a contender, Piastri anticipates strong competition from other drivers and stresses the importance of continuous progress and focus.
