Yuki Tsunoda is a few races in to his Red Bull career now and he's just sitting outside the top 10 in 11th. The Japanese driver is out on the soft compound and is top of the board with a 1:18.281.

No further investigation needed for that incident between Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc. Carry on with your day, lads.

Image source, Mercedes X

Mercedes have brought a few updates to Imola, which Kimi Antonelli says "will help" but the 18-year-old doesn't envision himself crossing the line victorious on Sunday, so he's hoping to secure his first podium of the year in Italy as a realistic target.

The teenager had some special visitors in the Silver Arrows garage yesterday - his classmates from school. They'll be sticking around all weekend to cheer on Antonelli, who team-mate George Russell says is "living every young kid's dream."

With overtaking opportunities limited at the famous Imola track, grabbing pole position on Saturday will be crucial. A number of drivers have headed out on these red C6 tyres to give them an early run out.

There is also a nice little pocket of fans from Argentina who have made the journey to cheer on home driver Franco Colapinto. The 21-year-old is on the medium C5 tyre first and has put down a 1:21.66 as his opening time.

Meanwhile, a message from Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin: "I nearly crashed with Leclerc," says the Spaniard, as the Ferrari man sticks a hand up to say sorry for getting in the way.

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temperature for Friday practice is 19.1C and the track 40.3C. Wind is from the ENE, with gusts to 34kph/21mph in the past hour. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0%.

For Saturday, current FIA guidance is 20% shower risk for qualifying.

On Sun, 20% chance of rain for the 63-lap race.

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli was gifted a big jar of pasta when he walked into the Imola paddock yesterday. Will he use it? I think he will.

The Italian teenager is on home soil for the first time this season - he only lives 30 minutes away from the track - and arrives at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix sitting sixth in the drivers' championship, seven points ahead of the man he replaced at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton.

This is also the first outing for seven-time world champion Hamilton in front of the Italian crowds. The Ferrari driver took victory in the China sprint in March but a main podium has been out of reach so far.

Ask Me Anything

BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team have been answering F1-related questions. Here’s one about the new C6 tyre.

Pirelli have a new tyre compound for the 2025 season. The C6 is the softest slick tyre available to be used at certain tracks and has been introduced to offer better performances and more grip over a flying lap.

The tyre was tested at last year’s Mexico City Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi post-season test.

It will make its debut this weekend in Imola and will be used again at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Pirelli said the tyre has been created “for use at tracks that stress the tyres the least”.

There will be eight sets of the soft tyres available for each driver this weekend.

A throw away camera. I hope Lando gets these pictures developed.

First practice in sunny Italy is green

Image source, Getty Images

Say hello to the all-new C6 tyre.

The compound, which none of the drivers ran during the Bahrain test in February, but Esteban Ocon did try them out at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi - is making its debut in Imola and will be the softest of the trio available this weekend: so the C4 will be the hard, C5 will be the medium and the C6 will be the red-banded soft tyre.

According to Pirelli's preview, the C6 "could provide even more grip over a flying lap, especially as the Imola surface is less abrasive than average."

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

A warm welcome to commentator Ben Edwards this weekend, who is joined by former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

Both sessions today will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab.

You can also listen via most smart speakers. Just ask BBC Sounds to play Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, followed by 'practice one' for this session and 'practice two' this afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

The media day was one driver down on Thursday because Charles Leclerc was feeling unwell. Ferrari opted to let the Monegasque driver rest instead so he could be ready for today's practice sessions.

And here is he. Leclerc arrived this morning with his girlfriend Alex and dog Leo, kitted out in his Scuderia t-shirt. We'll see if he mentions what made him feel poorly as the day goes on.

In the constructors' title race, McLaren hold an 105-point advantage over second-placed Mercedes after another double podium weekend. Red Bull and Ferrari stay put in third and fourth, while Williams in fifth have a 17-point buffer to Haas in sixth, thanks to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz's points haul in Miami.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

Oscar Piastri's win in Miami - his fourth in six races this season - puts the Australian 16 points clear of team-mate Lando Norris in the drivers' championship and 32 free of four-time title winner Max Verstappen in third.

George Russell isn't too far behind Verstappen in fourth following his fourth podium finish of the campaign last time out, as just six points separate the pair after six races.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Flavio Briatore has returned to the paddock recently serving as an executive adviser at Alpine but with Oakes' sudden departure, what does that mean for the Italian?

Briatore is in Imola this weekend, so Andrew Benson can clear up what the situation is:

Briatore, who is employed on a consultancy basis by parent company Renault, is "covering the duties previously performed by Oakes", Alpine has said.

But it has emerged he is not the person responsible for the team in the eyes of governing body the FIA.

He cannot be - because he is not a member of staff, and does not hold an F1 licence, as is required of people in such authority by the FIA's competitor's staff registration system.

In the absence of a new team principal, racing director Dave Greenwood is the "dedicated responsible person", an Alpine spokesperson said.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Franco Colapinto makes his debut for Alpine this weekend amid the disruption following the departure of team principal Oliver Oakes. The Argentine, who did nine races for Williams last season, replaces Australian Jack Doohan, a move announced a day after Oakes’ resignation. It seems hardly ideal timing to start a career with a team, but Williams team principal James Vowles backs Colapinto to cope.

"Is it in a turbulent time?" Vowles said at a media briefing at the Williams factory earlier this week. "Yes, no doubt about it. Will they be supportive to Pierre (Gasly) and Franco? Yes, I think they will as well, because they're still the elite athletes that are driving for them in order to score the most points you can.

"So, what normally happens, even in a turbulent time, is you still support your drivers. I actually think the learning is invaluable, whether it's in that team or elsewhere. A, it's time on track. B, it's time in a difficult environment, and if you come out of it, you'll only be stronger as a result. And Franco is strong, so I think it's still the right place for him to be at this stage."

Image source, Getty Images

The driver swaps keep coming and we're not even at the halfway point of the season yet.

Franco Colapinto is returning to the grid and will drive for Alpine replacing Jack Doohan, who is dropped down to reserve driver once again.

Colapinto only has a five races to prove himself, then the team will evaluate before the British Grand Prix, which is on 4-6 July.

"I'm really excited," Colapinto said on Thursday. "Everything is new again, so we start from zero."

Alpine also have a change at the top, after team principal Oliver Oakes resigned citing "personal reasons" less than a year in the job following the Miami Grand Prix.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, folks. Six grands prix down on this 24-race calendar and we've made it to the European leg of the Formula 1 season - with a side order of Canada next month.

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix kicks off this triple-header followed by Monaco next weekend then a trip to Spain in two weeks' time.

First practice in Imola gets under way at 12:30 BST.

Second practice goes green at 16:00 BST.

We waved goodbye to Miami with Oscar Piastri and McLaren celebrating another victory but the big talking point of round six was Ferrari's team radio back-and-forth.

Will we hear more words of frustration from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on Sunday? Surely not on Italian turf?

Let's find out...