Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We think the McLarens will dominate over the weekend as they have done so far. Red Bull run their cars quite differently on a Friday. There might be more to come for Red Bull because we know they turn their engines up on a Saturday, which might gain them a couple tenths over what they're running now on a Friday. Whereas, McLaren tend to run their power unit at pretty much the same high mode all weekend.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:15.293

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.025

3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.276

4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.400

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.442

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

It's been one of the features this year, the margins are so small on the top, on one single lap. I won't dwell on this because we're not in Monaco, but one thing that did strike me from the driver interviews yesterday is Lando Norris was talking about overtaking and whether pole position is really important in Imola and Monaco next weekend and Norris was saying because of the mandatory two-stop, he doesn't think pole will be as critical as it used to be.

With a mandatory two-stop they've tried to introduce some place changes in Monaco as an overreaction in my opinion to the race last year, but Norris thinks positions will change in Monaco as a result and you will be able to get back to your rightful position because of that mandatory two-stop.

Times are coming down rapidly now, as the Imola track continues to evolve. While it's a McLaren one-two up the front, Lewis Hamilton has highlighted issues with his brakes once again to the Ferrari pit wall, while Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli is having a bit of a torrid time with the gravel in the Mercedes.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren versus McLaren again this weekend, do we think? Whatever Lando Norris can do, so can his team-mate Oscar Piastri. The Australian is the new head of the field by 0.025 seconds.

Slotting into third place is the Alpine of Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman is just under three tenths away from Piastri's marker.

Charles Leclerc goes third quickest for Ferrari and Isack Hadjar is up to fourth in the Racing Bulls - which pushes the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda down the order. But here comes Lando Norris, who flies to the top of the timesheets with a 1:15.318 on the new C6 soft compound.

Max Verstappen hit a purple sector in the middle of the lap but the four-time world champion hasn't got enough in the tank to beat George Russell's soft time, falling just 0.042 seconds short of the Mercedes driver who stays top.

Image source, Reuters

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think if Franco Colapinto can build a strong weekend from start to finish, a good qualifying and then translate it into a decent race, then I think the team around him will be happy and the opportunities will keep coming for him.

Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, Yuki Tsunoda, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg now join George Russell on the soft tyre.

The soft tyre run has propelled George Russell and his Mercedes to the top of the timesheets with a time of 1:15.693, which is 0.259 seconds quicker than Lando Norris' time on the C5 medium compound.

Image source, PA Media

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony is to take on an official role with motorsport's governing body the FIA on young driver development.

Hamilton, who was instrumental in the start of Lewis' career and was his manager until 2010, has been working with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for 18 months on the organisation's young driver development programme.

A spokesperson said Anthony Hamilton had "provided invaluable insights into an area he is very familiar with".

His formal role, and the programme itself, is set to be announced at the FIA conference in Macau in June.

The track has fallen silent now, as everyone has headed back to the pits. Actually, George Russell is still out there, soaking up the clear air on his C6 rubber.

The Formula 1 dads are a huge part of the paddock and after the news rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr is considering running for president of the FIA in December's election - the 63-year-old would be running against current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem - word of another famous F1 father taking on a key role at motorsport's governing body has been released...

Pierre Gasly banks a very neat and tidy lap in the Alpine and moves up to fifth on the timesheets. His time of 1:16.152 on the mediums is two tenths away from Lando Norris' top marker.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

It's the third year of Fred Vasseur's stewardship at Ferrari. It looked like last year they were heading in a good direction, but the progress of McLaren particularly on race pace has caught everyone on the hop and is definitely increasing the pressure.

Lando Norris is looking for his second main win of the season; he took the opening victory in Melbourne back in March. Since then he's watched his Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri jump above him in the championship, so can the Briton claw back some points with a race wvictory this weekend? Norris has improved on his previous medium run and has clocked a 1:15.952.

The two Williams are in the top three following their medium tyre attempts. Carlos Sainz is 0.040 seconds behind the McLaren of Lando Norris, while Alex Albon is just a fraction behind in third place. Charles Leclerc, who has hopefully sorted his race helmet issues out, is sitting in fifth spot behind Oscar Piastri in fourth.

The two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are currently being split by the Red Bull of reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Up steps George Russell, though, to push the Dutchman down the order with a time of 1:16.366 on the medium compound.

Fernando Alonso had a moment with another car in first practice and the same thing has just happened again to the Spaniard. The culprit on this occasion was Franco Colapinto, who was going slowly in the Alpine as the Aston Martin appeared on a flyer.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's been an encouraging start for Williams. It's actually been an encouraging start to the season for Williams. They've been building in the background. Williams are in good shape and are building towards the major regulation change that comes in 2026. They've been getting their house in order, changing their management structure, changing their drivers with Carlos Sainz joining, everything in the background is coming together strong.

The rear of the Ferrari is all over the place as Lewis Hamilton tries his best to control the car through the first chicane. Lando Norris' opening timed lap is a smooth one in comparison and the McLaren crosses the line and goes top on the mediums with a 1:16.074.

Franco Colapinto, who has replaced Australian Jack Doohan at Alpine and has five races in the car before a new evaluation by the team, has his eyes closed in the cockpit, taking a moment to gather himself before another hour of getting back up to speed in a Formula 1 car.

The old guard of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have headed out on the soft tyres, while the rest of the grid has emerged on the yellow mediums to start off.