Qualifying Drama: The qualifying session at Imola was anything but straightforward, with two significant red flag incidents disrupting the proceedings and adding an element of unpredictability to the final grid.
Early Pace and First Red Flag: Alex Albon in his Williams initially set the fastest time, but his early advantage was short-lived as the first red flag was deployed. Yuki Tsunoda’s aggressive approach to the Villeneuve chicane saw his Red Bull Racing car bottom out, resulting in a high-speed spin that sent him into the gravel trap, briefly airborne, and then flipping into the catch-fencing. Remarkably, Tsunoda emerged from the wreckage unharmed.
Verstappen Takes the Lead: Following a 14-minute delay for barrier repairs and car recovery, the session restarted, and Max Verstappen immediately asserted his dominance by setting the fastest lap. Piastri positioned himself in second place, trailing the reigning champion by three-tenths of a second.
Second Red Flag Shuffles the Pack: As the final runs of Q1 commenced, Verstappen opted to remain in the garage. However, many drivers were unable to complete their laps due to a second red flag. This time, it was the returning Franco Colapinto who went off at the exit of Tamburello, crashing into the barriers. Although Colapinto was also unharmed, the incident prevented several drivers from improving their times and escaping the elimination zone. This resulted in Liam Lawson, Nico Hülkenberg, the Haas duo of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, and the unfortunate Tsunoda being knocked out in Q1.
Q2 Pace and Strategic Tyre Choices: Piastri set the pace in the initial stages of Q2, leading his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Verstappen slotted into third. For the final runs in Q2, Verstappen and both McLaren drivers chose to use used tyres. This opened the door for Carlos Sainz in the Williams to briefly take the top spot. Ultimately, Piastri secured P2 ahead of Norris and Russell, with Verstappen qualifying in fifth.
Ferrari’s Shocking Elimination: Behind the top contenders, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, both equipped with a fresh set of Medium tyres, made significant gains to qualify sixth and seventh, respectively. Strong final laps from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, and Williams’ Albon further shuffled the order, resulting in a stunning elimination of both Ferrari drivers, with Charles Leclerc in P11 and local favourite Kimi Antonelli in P13. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and the crashed Colapinto also failed to progress.
Q3 Showdown and Piastri’s Decisive Lap: Verstappen initially claimed provisional pole at the start of Q3. Norris was the first of the frontrunners to complete a lap, setting a time of 1:14.962. Piastri, with a blistering middle sector, then went faster by a mere 0.0015s. Verstappen responded with the quickest first sector, setting the stage for a thrilling final round of flying laps.
Pole Position for Piastri: Piastri was the first to go for his final attempt, laying down a marker with a lap of 1:14.670. Verstappen was again rapid in the first sector, but he couldn’t maintain the pace in the middle sector, ultimately allowing Piastri to snatch pole position by a tiny margin of 0.034s.
Final Grid Positions: Behind the top two, Russell managed to secure third place in the dying moments of qualifying. Norris had to settle for fourth. Alonso’s impressive performance on used Medium tyres earned him fifth. The Williams duo of Sainz and Albon qualified sixth and seventh, followed by Stroll (also on Mediums), Hadjar, and Gasly rounding out the top ten.
Summary: Oscar Piastri delivered a sensational performance to secure pole position for the Imola Grand Prix, navigating a chaotic qualifying session marked by two red flags. He narrowly beat Max Verstappen, with George Russell completing the top three. Several surprises unfolded, including the double elimination of Ferrari in Q2 and strong showings from Aston Martin and Williams.
Disclaimer: It is important to note that Formula 1 qualifying results are subject to change following post-session scrutineering and potential penalties issued by the FIA.
| Qualifying Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 7 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 8 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 11 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 12 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 13 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 16 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team |
| 19 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing |
Source: FIA
AI Assistance: Gemini
