A tough race for Alex, eventually ending with car retirement. Time to reset and look ahead to Monaco next weekend. See you then 🫡

The garage has decided to retire Alex's FW46. His race in Imola comes to an end, so unfortunate for our Thai racer.

My fronts are gone, so I can't really change my brakes too much.

The final few laps to go for Alex at the 2024 Emilia Romagna GP

Alex continuing to put in the work...

If he's [Logan] struggling with understeer in turn 7, go wide. It's better.

Back in to switch to the used mediums for Alex, now two laps down

Alex comes in to serve a 10-second stop-go penalty for an unsafe release

We have a 10 second stop and go penalty. We'll serve it this lap.

Alex continues to put in work a lap down in P20 and rounds Alonso...

Albono makes it around the track and back into the pits for mediums now fitted

Alex comes in for an early pit and goes back onto the track on hards, but is now reporting an issue...

A clean opening three laps from Alex, who is chasing down Stroll...

And we are underway!

Albono rolls out for the formation lap with medium tyres on his FW46, not long to go...

The national anthem fills the air as Alex and the drivers stand under umbrellas to shield from the sun on this hot day in Italy

Welcome back to Imola, as Alex takes to the grid for the seventh round of the 2024 Formula 1 season! 20 minutes to go until lights out...

That's coverage complete from Imola today. We'll be back tomorrow to guide you through Alex's race in the 2024 Emila Romagna GP.

Alex in action

Alex qualifies in P14 after that lap and won't make it to Q3. A good effort for Albono, though, with yet another Q2 appearance in 2024.

Alex gets to P12 with a 1:16.200, the exact same time as Russell. He'll need another lap to reach Q3, but there won't be enough time. A strong effort from Albono.

OK, it's quiet so far. Two Alpines just right up ahead

As the track gets quiet, Alex opts to run in the gap. Will the gamble work?

It's a 1:16.921 for Alex from his first Q2 hot lap. He's P6 as others set their times.

Track speed is improving. That's 4 tenths at the moment.

The times are clear and it's time for Alex to go out for Q2.

Box, box.

No purple sectors this time, but Alex gets a lap in with a 1:16.524. He's P12 with 2 minutes and 30 seconds remaining.

Albono is on track again. That first lap was deleted for violating track limits so it's crucial to get a time on the board.

Albono returns to the garage for the team to check the floor after that trip through the gravel.

Alex enjoyed a rapid start to his quick lap with the fastest first sector. A crosswind at the final corner has him wide into the gravel, however. He has a 1:17.414.

Alex hits the Imola track for his first Q1 laps.

Q1 is about to begin. It's time to find out where Alex will start tomorrow's Grand Prix.

No improvement from Alex, but there weren't many faster laps for anyone. He finishes FP3 in an encouraging P7.

That was a very quick clean-up operation! There isn't much time to get a fast lap in as drivers try to outmuscle each other to get around before the chequered flag.

That didn't last long... Perez hits the barriers in a slow-speed crash.

Eight minutes remain in the session and there's a flurry of activity at the end of the pit lane. Alex is heading out to set some final times.

That was a good lap.

P6 with that speedy lap! 1:16.470 is Alex's best time of the day.

Another lap on another set of soft tyres...

Alex gets in a 1:17.115 to sit P12. He returns to the garage to analyse the lap and prepare for the final 20 minutes.

PIT: So I think the two cars ahead of you, Tsunoda and George, are still low fuel.

We're back to green... after a brief bit of confusion at the end of the pit lane. Alex heads out with more soft tyres.

A huge smash in the barriers as Alonso crashes out to trigger a red flag. He's okay, but the session is suspended.

That's a 1:17.363 for Alex's first Saturday effort. He's P9 with that soft-tyre lap.

Albono exits the pits as the clock ticks past the 20-minute mark.

Alex is getting set to go out

There are just four cars on track in these opening minutes.

One hour of running starts now. Alex isn't in the car yet as the first drivers head out.

Saturday's first session is about to start...

Today will see the first competitive session of the weekend with Qualifying this afternoon. But first, it's the final Free Practice session for Alex to get the setup as best it can be. Stay tuned for all things Albono in Imola right here.

The timer hits zero here as FP2 comes to a close and Alex heads back to the garage with a best time of 1:17.135... See you tomorrow for more action from Imola! 👋

Four [laps] to go.

Alex is back on track with flow-vis paint for the final 10 minutes of FP2

A return to the garage for Albono after setting his quickest time on soft tyres of the session so far with 1:17.135...

Alex heads back out with a fresh set of soft tyres!

More improvement as Albono manages to set a 1:17.552

Alex picks up the pace and sets his quickest lap of the day recording a time of 1:19.197 on mediums

Albono makes his way out of the garage and onto the track...

Alex's crew are working hard on his FW46 to make sure he gets some FP2 running

And we are back from Imola! Get ready to follow Alex back on track for FP2...

An unfortunate start for Albono in Imola as FP1 comes to a close. We'll be back in a couple of hours to bring you all the updates from FP2...

Alex's FW46 gets lifted off the track by the stewards. FP1 is over for our Thai driver...

Alex has stopped on the side of the track...

A 1:21.233 on Albono's first push lap

FP1 gets underway as Alex heads off onto the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari!

FP1 is moments away, follow along for full updates on Albono's progress in Imola...

Stay tuned for live updates from the first European race weekend of the season...