The 2023 Formula 1 season has resumed in Imola, Italy, with great anticipation around the expected major upgrades for Mercedes and Ferrari. Fans and enthusiasts all over the world will be able to watch all sessions live on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying at 3 PM on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday at 2 PM. This leg of the race is part of the triple-header of European races that mark the start of a thrilling season.
The Imola leg of the race comes on the back of Max Verstappen’s blazing victory in Miami, where he extended his world championship lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. However, all eyes are now set on rival teams Mercedes and Ferrari, which have both struggled to keep up with Red Bull’s pace in the 2023 season. They have both brought major upgrades to Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, which may give them a fighting chance in future races. While they do not expect to match Red Bull’s speed, the upgrades should provide a good indication of how the rest of the season will play out.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be hoping to do better than they have done at previous races, with their struggles with Mercedes’ W14. Ferrari will also be under pressure to perform on home turf, with fans and supporters eagerly cheering them on.
Verstappen’s lead after his victory in Miami stands at 14 points over Perez, with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin coming in third. Alonso is a further 30 points back, after he claimed a fourth podium in five races. The Emilia-Romagna GP is the first of three back-to-back races on Sky Sports F1, as Monaco follows, and Alonso enjoys a homecoming in Barcelona at the Spanish GP.
Every session from Imola is live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can also catch coverage of the F2 and F3 contests, which will be taking place throughout the weekend. Qualifying begins at 3 PM on Saturday, with build-up from 2:10 PM. Sunday’s Grand Prix build-up begins at 12:30 PM, ahead of lights-out at 2 PM.
The championship standings after five rounds have Max Verstappen in the lead with 119 points, followed by Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, with 105 points. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin is in third place with 75 points, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is fourth with 56 points. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari comes in fifth with 44 points, while George Russell of Mercedes is sixth with 40 points. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari has 34 points, while Lance Stroll of Aston Martin has 27 points. Lando Norris of McLaren has 10 points, and Pierre Gasly of Alpine has eight points.
Sky Sports F1’s live Emilia-Romagna GP schedule is as follows:
Friday 26 May
8:50 am: F3 Practice
10 am: F2 Practice
12 pm: Emilia-Romagna GP Practice One
1:55 pm: F3 Qualifying
2:50 pm: F2 Qualifying
3:45 pm: Emilia-Romagna GP Practice Two
5:30 pm: The F1 Show
Saturday 27 May
9 am: F3 Sprint
11:15 am: Emilia-Romagna GP Practice Three
1:10 pm: F2 Sprint
2:10 pm: Emilia-Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
3 pm: Emilia-Romagna GP Qualifying
4:45 pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday 28 May
8:40 am: F3 Feature Race
10:10 am: F2 Feature Race
12:30 pm: Grand Prix Sunday Emilia-Romagna GP build-up
2 pm: The Emilia-Romagna GRAND PRIX
Formula 1 fans worldwide can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, including the race from 2 PM on Sunday 21 May. With major upgrades from Mercedes and Ferrari, the Imola leg of the competition promises an exciting battle among the teams. So, don’t miss the action and tune in to Sky Sports F1 to catch every moment of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
