Imola finally comes back to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time since 2006. The third appointment of the Italian Grand Prix saga in 2020 is ready to host a new format of the race. Since the end of the last season Liberty Media was planning to use a two-day format for the race, in order to be able to add more races and spend less money. This format provides only one session of free practices, just in time to approach the real circuit after all the virtual simulations on Saturday morning just before of diving into qualifying.

Sainz had already said he likes this idea as such an approach would welcome a more interesting variety of chances.

Today it’s the right moment to give this two-day format a shot, but by now we cannot appreciate a very different result.

Lewis Hamilton is once again the fastest man on the track and he gets the first place in the only practice session. Just behind his there is a super Max Verstappen, who gets to put his Red Bull ahead of the other Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas’, who ends only third.

Pierre Gasly, fresh of confirmation, wound up an impressive fourth place ahead of Charles Leclerc, fifth. The Monegasque, however, doesn’t sound happy of his SF1000 anyway as he complained about some aero problems and some difficulties on leading the car.

The sixth and seventh position have been gained by the two Renaults. Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon put out quite a show, battling very closely for the first position available, the Australian winning the sixth place. Daniil Kvyat managed to take his Alpha Tauri in eighth position, ahead of Alex Albon, ninth, and Lance Stroll, tenth.

It seems quite hard to watch a different show on today qualifying as well but the Italian races this year proved that anything could happen.

PRACTICE CLASSIFICATION

Just 9️⃣0️⃣ minutes of prep ahead of qualifying! And here's how everything panned out...#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/GkNb4YiqUV

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 31, 2020