Imola Grand Prix – Qualifying: Max Verstappen sets the times again
Having struggled since the start of the weekend, the three-time world champion is back on pole position for the 7th consecutive time. He was ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. At home, Ferrari was unable to offer pole to the Tifosi.
The moment of truth has come.
After three practice sessions where no team dominates the competition, many can claim the pole position on the Imola circuit. Two drivers covet it more than anything: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, driven by the passion of the Tifosi for Scuderia Ferrari. The sun is high in the sky, it is 4 pm, the qualifying session can begin.
Q1:
Esteban Ocon sets the first timed lap of this session in 1:16.645. His time stands strong against the Haas, Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz, and his teammate Pierre Gasly. The Ferraris are on medium tires, Charles Leclerc takes the lead by two tenths. Max Verstappen takes off, he is ahead on all intermediate times… he sets the best lap: 1:16.013! Oscar Piastri, the fastest of the FP3, is very comfortable. Fast on the straight line, the McLaren shows itself very agile in short and dry corners.
The two Williams drivers still have not taken to the track with 10 minutes left in Q1… Perhaps they are waiting for the track conditions to improve further? Fernando Alonso, who hit the wall in FP3, goes through the gravel traps again at the exit of the second corner. This time he avoids the wall and rejoins the track… without consequences.
Pierre Gasly is in 5th place, a time good enough to advance to Q2, Esteban Ocon is in 11th place and in danger. Alexander Albon completes a lap for the first time with less than 5 minutes left in Q1. He is currently in 12th place, 6 tenths behind Lando Norris, who has the best time. The drivers are very close in times.
Niko Hülkenberg sets the fastest time! He brilliantly secures his spot in Q2 despite being last!
The passage to Q2 will be played between Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, and Daniel Ricciardo.
The track is evolving a lot, lap times are constantly improving. Daniel Ricciardo takes 9th place… Valterri Bottas doesn’t improve, Lewis Hamilton was close! He is the last one to qualify for Q2. Fernando Alonso did not manage to complete a clean lap, he is eliminated, paying for his off-track excursion during the third free practice earlier.
The list of those eliminated in Q1: Valtteri Bottas (16th), Guaynu Zhou (17th), Kevin Magnussen (18th), Fernando Alonso (19th), and Logan Sargeant (20th).
Q2:
Here we go again! Lewis Hamilton is the first one to hit the track. He finds himself a little bit alone to his liking.
He sets the first mark in 1:16.197. Max Verstappen significantly improves his Q1 time, he lowers the reference time to 1:15.386. The Mercedes are struggling… they are surpassed by Nico Hülkenberg.
Charles Leclerc lights up the sectors in purple, he is improving compared to Max Verstappen and sets the fastest time! The two McLarens are 4th and 5th. Yuki Tsunoda impresses again! He is sandwiched between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. The Japanese is 3 hundredths off the fastest time.
The two Alpine drivers are in 12th and 13th position after the first wave of attempts. George Russell in 11th, Lance Stroll and Alex Albon in the last two positions are virtually eliminated. Lewis Hamilton is once again in danger, he is in 10th place.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton move up to 7th and 8th position. The Alpines do not make it to Q3. Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo will compete for the last qualifying spot: it’s Daniel Ricciardo who advances! The Racing Bulls, at home, are on fire! What a disappointment for Sergio Perez.
Those eliminated in Q2: Sergio Perez (11th), Esteban Ocon (12th), Lance Stroll (13th), Alexander Albon (14th), Pierre Gasly (15th).
Q3:
The long-awaited moment has arrived. In 12 minutes we will know the poleman of the Imola Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen sets a very strong first time with 1:14.869! Lando Norris reduces the gap by finishing less than a tenth behind the Dutchman on his first attempt. Charles Leclerc is slightly further back in 3rd position. Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz complete the top 5 of these initial attempts. It will be difficult to catch the triple world champion.
Calm takes over the track, everyone holds their breath before the final laps.
Carlos Sainz starts first! He does not improve his time enough to beat Max Verstappen’s time. Charles Leclerc is late in the first sector, he improves in the second… but also fails to take the lead.
Qualifications ranking
More information in a few moments…
