F1 practice LIVE: Latest updates from Emilia Romagna Grand Prix practice at rainy Imola before qualifying

LIVE – Updated at 12:39

Follow all the latest updates from practice at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at a rainy Imola as the teams prepare for qualifying later on Friday afternoon.

Several teams are trying to get to grips with issues which have plagued them in the opening rounds and correct them this weekend, although the wet weather won’t make life easy. Red Bull have seen reigning champion Max Verstappen fail to finish twice in the first three races of the season, though the potential they retain was evident when he won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in round two. Either side of that triumph, it was Charles Leclerc who was the victor, while his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz has signed a new contract with the team.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are still expecting to “challenge for wins” across the course of the season despite thier current lack of pace, though Toto Wolff has insisted it will “take time” for the team to fix the problems they have with porpoising and controlling the air flow under the new car.

Hamilton is staying positive about getting in the mix, but Mercedes won’t be making any big changes to their car for the Emilia Romagna GP due to fewer practice sessions. That’s because the first sprint race of the campaign is on Saturday, pushing qualifying forward to Friday afternoon and the race being in its usual Sunday slot.

Follow all the latest updates from Friday practice at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix below:

Carlos Sainz’s car has been fitted with a new engine for this weekend’s race and he’s giving it a first test as the Ferrari goes out for practice.

No movement from the two Mercedes cars yet,

Team Haas have sent out Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen too.

The green light is on at the end