Oscar Piastres he takes it with all his strength and talent pole position in qualifying at Imola. Not even Max Verstappen could do anything, trailing by only thirty-four thousandths. Resounding disaster is preferably used for Ferrari: the two drivers failed to qualify for Q3, as also happened to Kimi Antonelli. Finally, two red flags marked the first qualifying session, with tsunoda e Colapinto who respectively hit Villeneuve and Tamburello.
Q1: Qualifying at Imola kicks off with a nasty crash for Tsunoda
Qualifying begins in Imola, with the Sauber of Bortoleto who first chooses to take to the track. He is followed by his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, and the two Haas. However, with thirteen minutes to go, the first time is taken by Alexander albon, followed by Alonso and then Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari. The track temperature has not dropped compared to FP3, despite a quick passage of some clouds on the circuit earlier. The track, however, seems to be slower than in the morning, so it will certainly see an improvement over the course of the three sessions.
After Albon's time, however, the qualifying at Imola is interrupted by a red flagIt was caused by Yuki tsunoda. The Japanese driver overused the inside kerb at Villeneuve corner, losing control of his car, which violently hit the barriers. The Japanese driver also overturned several times, but fortunately he did not suffer any physical damageThe stewards rush to fix the barriers, with the clock, stopped twelve minutes from the end, starting again only at 16:20 local time.
Once the green flag was given, all the cars left the pits, with some remaining, including the Ferraris, stuck in traffic for a few minutes. Not an optimal situation for the Redheads, which, once they have marked their lap, are classified in nona e twelfth position. Good test, instead, for Fernando Alonso, who with five minutes to go finds himself third behind Verstappen, first, and Oscar Piastri. However, no one manages to improve because, at the end of Q1, the Imola qualifications are interrupted again by a Red flagThis time it goes to the wall Colapinto at the exit of Tamburello curve. Lawson, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Bearman and Tsunoda are thus eliminated from Q1.
Q2: Antonelli and both Ferraris eliminated.
Begins with long delay the second qualifying session at Imola. The race officials cannot understand if, at the end of Q1, Bearman set his time before the red flag was shown due to Colapinto. In the meantime, however, Bortoleto, who qualified fifteenth, goes down to the pit lane first and, once the green light comes on, he takes to the track for his lap. In the meantime, the second session begins to get into full swing. All the drivers are on the track to secure a place in Q3. With eight minutes to go, the McLaren lead the time rankings: first Piastri and second Norris. Behind them, not far away, Max Verstappen.
The fight for the top ten positions is very tight. Hamilton, in his last attempt, makes some mistakes and does not improve, remaining in seventh position. Not even Leclerc succeeds in improving his position. Both reds are thus excluded in Q2, together with Antonelli, Bortoleto and Colapinto. All mocked, among other things, by the two Aston Martin, who qualify thanks to a time set on used yellow rubber. The first position is instead conquered by a great Carlos Sainz, who thus becomes the protagonist of these qualifications in Imola.
Q3: pole position for Oscar Piastri. Behind him Norris and Verstappen
The ten remaining drivers take to the track. The objective is conquer pole position, in a qualifying session here in Imola which has already reserved several twists and turns. The first carousel of fast laps ends immediately: Verstappen surprises the McLarens by conquering the first position. Behind him, fifty thousandths behind, we find Oscar Piastri, then Norris and Russell. Excellent Hadjar, who is fifth.
With three minutes to go, all the drivers return to the track to improve. Aston Martin will try to assert himself in the final qualifying session of the Imola GP still fitting used medium tires. Oscar piastri manages to regain the current pole position, while struggling a little more Lando Norris, who thus remains third, only to be overtaken by George Russell, also thanks to the medium rubber. In the meantime, it also arrives Max Verstappen on the finish line, which however, by only thirty-four thousandths, fails to grab the first position.
Oscar Piastri thus conquers another pole position, perhaps the most beautiful of his career, thanks to a fantastic 1:14.670. Alonso returns in style at Imola, qualifying fifth ahead of an excellent Carlos Sainz. Closing the top ten are Albon, Stroll, Hadjar, who made a mistake on his last lap, and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.
