Report
Ralph Boschung ended the free practice session from the Imola Circuit with the fastest lap time of the session, setting a 1:41.996 in his Campos Racing car. The session was heavily disrupted, with three red flags being deployed across the 30 minutes of on-track action.
Practice was rescheduled from Friday morning, as the treacherous wet conditions forced Race Control to postpone the outing until the circumstances improved. As the green light was finally given, it was Boschung who was the first to emerge onto the Italian track.
However, it wasn’t long before the first red flag was produced, as Hitech Grand Prix’s Marcus Armstrong spun and hit the barrier before Turn 11.
When the session resumed, drivers were able to get some times on the board, with Armstrong’s teammate Juri Vips setting the initial pace. But shortly after the Estonian’s effort, another red flag put a stop to the action, as Logan Sargeant spun out of the final corner and stalled his car.
With little time on the clock as the session resumed once again, the cars sprinted back out, with Boschung moving to the head of the pack before having a spin of his own in the final minute, which forced the third red flag of the session.
The Swiss driver retained his fastest time and ended the session almost three-tenths of a second ahead of Vips, who in turn headed PREMA Racing’s Jehan Daruvala.
Clément Novalak was fourth for MP Motorsport, with his championship-leading teammate Felipe Drugovich ending up in sixth. Lodged between the duo was the Virtuosi Racing driver of Marino Sato.
Reigning FIA Formula 3 Champion Dennis Hauger was seventh, in front of Trident’s Richard Verschoor. David Beckmann was ninth, while Liam Lawson rounded out the top 10 in the leading Carlin entry.
Friday’s new schedule following the morning’s weather interruption means that the F2 cars will be back on the circuit at 18:30 local time later today for Qualifying.