Oscar Piastri secured his third pole position of the 2024 season in a chaotic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix qualifying session, narrowly beating Max Verstappen and George Russell in a thrilling finale.
The McLaren driver set a blistering 1:14.670 on his final Q3 run, despite losing time in the final sector due to traffic. His effort was enough to deny Verstappen by just 0.034 seconds, while Russell claimed third for Mercedes, edging out Lando Norris in the second McLaren.
Tyre Struggles and Strategic Gambles
Drivers faced a significant challenge managing the soft C6 compound tyres around the high-degradation Imola circuit. Russell’s decision to use medium tyres in Q3 proved effective, allowing him to leapfrog Norris, who struggled to extract maximum performance from the softs.
Verstappen, who has dominated recent races, looked poised to take pole but fell just short in the final moments. The Red Bull driver remains a strong contender for victory, however, with his long-run pace appearing superior in practice.
Chaos and Red Flags Disrupt Qualifying
The session was marred by two red flags in Q1, both triggered by heavy crashes. Yuki Tsunoda rolled his Red Bull at the Villeneuve chicane after losing control, while Franco Colapinto, making his return to F1 with Alpine, slammed into the barriers at Tamburello. Both drivers walked away unharmed, but the incidents disrupted the rhythm for many.
Ferrari’s Home Disaster
In a nightmare scenario for the Tifosi, Ferrari endured a shocking qualifying at their home race. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—both struggling for pace—were knocked out in Q2, leaving the Scuderia facing an uphill battle on Sunday. Leclerc will start P12, while Hamilton could only manage P14, a bitter disappointment for the Italian squad.
Top 10 Grid for Sunday’s Race
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:14.670
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.034
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.192
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.235
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.328
- Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) – +0.362
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.482
- Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) – +0.563
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +0.721
- Daniel Ricciardo (RB) – +0.843
What to Expect in the Race
With Piastri starting on pole, all eyes will be on whether he can convert it into a win. Verstappen’s race pace makes him a favorite, but McLaren’s recent improvements could see a fierce battle at the front.
Ferrari’s struggles mean they face a difficult recovery drive, while Mercedes will hope Russell can challenge for a podium. With overtaking notoriously tricky at Imola, strategy and tyre management will be crucial.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix promises high drama—don’t miss the lights out at 15:00 local time!
Reporter
