Piastri Claims Pole Position in Thrilling Imola Qualifying
Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen and George Russell in a dramatic and incident-filled qualifying session at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Piastri, driving for McLaren, clocked a remarkable lap time of 1:14.670, narrowly beating Red Bull’s Verstappen by just three-hundredths of a second. After being outpaced by Verstappen in the initial runs of Q3, Piastri found another gear on his final lap, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.
Russell, who opted for medium tires for his last run, secured third place, while Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris finished fourth. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the top five, also on medium tires. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon impressed by securing sixth and seventh positions for Williams, while Lance Stroll, rookie Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten.
Ferrari faced a disappointing qualifying session, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing 11th and 12th, respectively. Both drivers struggled with brake issues throughout practice, and their failure to advance to Q3 marked a troubling start for the Scuderia at their home race.
The session was not without its drama. Early in Q1, Yuki Tsunoda suffered a terrifying crash, sliding off the track and flipping his car into the barriers before emerging unharmed. His incident triggered red flags and caused significant delays.
As the session progressed, Piastri and Norris quickly established their dominance, while Verstappen responded with a strong lap that briefly put him on top. However, Piastri’s final effort not only secured him pole but also set the stage for what promises to be an exciting race on Sunday.
Reflecting on his performance, Piastri said, “It was a great session, very tough with all the delays and red flags. The team did a great job to find a nice setup for qualifying. I’m very happy with the lap and excited for tomorrow.”
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is set to begin at 15:00 local time on Sunday, where Piastri will look to convert his pole position into a victory.
