Max Verstappen secured his eighth consecutive pole place in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Saturday to equal the record of Ayrton Senna.
The race is because of begin at 15:00 (SA time) on Sunday.
The Red Bull three-time world champion’s dominance in qualifying drew him stage with Senna’s run of eight poles, poignantly three many years after the late nice Brazilian’s tragic dying at the Italian circuit in 1994.
Grid penalty for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri
“It’s a great start to the year but also very special 30 years since he passed away at this track,” mentioned Verstappen.
“Of course, very pleased to get pole here and in a way it’s a nice memory to him (Senna), he was an incredible Formula 1 driver especially in qualifying laps as well, so a great day for me and a great day for the team, I’m very very happy.”
Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was to have began alongside the unstoppable Dutchman on Sunday after posting the second quickest time 0.074 seconds behind in a decent qualifying session.
However, the Australian was docked three grid locations for impeding the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
That promoted McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, winner final trip in Miami, to the entrance row.
The two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will set off from the second row with Piastri now alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the third row.
Yuki Tsunoda’s RB, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Daniel Ricciardo (RB), and Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) rounded out the highest 10.
The evident absentee from the primary 5 rows was the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who went out within the second qualifying session, the Mexican muttering “what a mess” on the staff radio.
‘Tiny margins’
Piastri had initially been thrilled to get so near taking pole.
“My lap was a bit scruff in the final corner, but it is so difficult to do a perfect lap at this circuit,” he mentioned earlier than the penalty was handed down.
Norris added: “Not a bad job, it’s all about tiny margins.”
After a chaotic third follow on a lovely sunlit day at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Verstappen was swiftly on the tempo and went high after eight minutes in 1:16.013 solely to be outpaced inside a minute by Piastri after which Norris, the McLarens endorsing their follow velocity.
Fernando Alonso’s tough day continued when his Aston Martin went off at the exit of Tamburello, taking a dive by way of the gravel, however avoiding any contact with the boundaries. He pitted, accepting he couldn’t enhance on twentieth and final on the grid.
Hulkenberg then went high for Haas earlier than Verstappen outpaced him together with Leclerc as Q1 ended with Valtteri Bottas of Sauber, Logan Sargeant of Williams Zhou Guanyu of Sauber and Magnussen, within the second Haas, exiting with Alonso.
Hamilton was out early to high Q2 forward of Russell earlier than the Red Bulls lastly discovered their tempo, Verstappen going high in 1:15.386, regardless of working huge at Rivazza, with Perez second. All have been working on softs.
Leclerc then took the initiative with Tsunoda slotting into second place, all proof that Red Bull weren’t having it their very own manner – and the highest seven all inside half a second of the tempo.
On their second runs, Verstappen improved to take high spot, however team-mate Perez missed out on the top-ten shootout and was eradicated in eleventh together with Esteban Ocon of Alpine, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Alex Albon of Williams and Pierre Gasly, sporting a Senna-yellow helmet, within the second Alpine.
The high 4 have been separated by four-tenths of a second for the ultimate runs which noticed Verstappen, digging into his reserves of expertise, seize pole with a stunning lap in 1:14.746 – a transparent instance of an excellent driver delivering past the potential of his automotive.
Grid for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola after qualifying on Saturday:
Front row
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)
2nd row
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
third row
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
4th row
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
fifth row
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)
sixth row
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)
seventh row
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)
Alex Albon (THA/Williams)
eighth row
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)
ninth row
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)
tenth row
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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