BREAKING: Hamilton tops timesheets at Imola practice!

Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in the only practice session at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix ahead of qualifying later on Saturday.

At Imola for the first time in 14 years, Hamilton went quickest ahead of Max Verstappen and teammate Valtteri Bottas.

The track was busy throughout, with this session the only practice drivers will get this weekend.

Verstappen set the early pace, swapping fastest laps with Daniil Kvyat in the first few minutes.

It took the Mercedes drivers a bit longer to get up to speed, but it wasn’t long before Hamilton and Bottas went second and third.

Several drivers had issues with track limits at Piratella and Variante Alta, Turns 9 and 14, with drivers like Alex Albon, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly seeing times deleted.

Albon was having further issues, complaining over the radio about a lack of rear grip as he tries to save not just his Red Bull seat, but his F1 career.

With half an hour to go, Hamilton began to show the potential the Mercedes has at this track, going two tenths clear of his Dutch rival.

At their third home race of the season, Ferrari had mixed fortunes once again. Charles Leclerc did well to finish 5th but Sebastian Vettel struggled down in 12th.

Gasly was the quickest outside the big three, celebrating another year at Alpha Tauri with an impressive lap.

Renault had a good session, with Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon sixth and seventh, ahead of the Kvyat and the under pressure Albon.

Lance Stroll was tenth ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. Qualifying gets underway at 1pm UK time, join us live on GPBlog then!