Max Verstappen bounces back from Friday’s issues to post fastest practice time

Max Verstappen laid down an impressive marker ahead of qualifying for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix by finishing fastest in final practice.

The Dutchman, who broke down in Friday’s concluding session in Imola, bounced back to finish 0.456 seconds clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris with Lewis Hamilton third.

Valtteri Bottas completed a practice double for Mercedes on Friday, but the Finn ended the morning running in eighth.

Verstappen should have won the opening round in Bahrain three weeks ago but failed to find a way past Hamilton in the closing stages.

And in Imola, the Red Bull driver again appears the man to beat in a car which seems to hold a one-lap advantage over Hamilton’s Mercedes.

Indeed, the seven-time world champion finished more than half-a-second off Verstappen’s pace. Bottas was nearly one second behind the Dutchman.

Norris finished a strong fourth at the first race and the young Briton will hope to secure a high grid slot in Italy on the evidence of his speed in practice.

Sergio Perez was fourth in the other Red Bull ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly.

A number of drivers, including Kimi Raikkonen, slipped off the road during practice, with Nicholas Latifi crashing into the wall.

The Canadian driver lost control of his Williams through turns five and six, running into the gravel and damaging his front wing.

The session was suspended as he limped back to the pits.