NEW DELHI: Oscar Piastri delivered a sensational performance to claim pole position for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, mastering a chaotic Qualifying session marked by crashes, red flags, and strategic tyre gambles. The McLaren driver posted a blistering lap of 1m 14.670s, narrowly beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.034s, while Mercedes’ George Russell secured third, opting for medium tyres instead of softs for his final run.
Drama and Chaos in Qualifying
The session began with high drama as Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda suffered a horrifying crash at Variante Villeneuve, his car flipping over after slamming into the barriers. Fortunately, Tsunoda walked away without injury. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto also crashed in Q1, missing out on Q2 despite posting a fast enough lap.
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Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Oliver Bearman joined Tsunoda in being eliminated in Q1. Bearman’s final lap, which briefly saved him, was invalidated after a post-session review.
Sainz Shines in Q2, Ferrari Falters
Carlos Sainz delivered a standout performance in Q2, topping the timesheets for Williams with a 1m 15.198s lap. However, Ferrari’s struggles continued at their home race as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failed to make the top 10, finishing 11th and 12th. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also missed out, ending 13th.
Piastri Dominates Q3 with Last-Gasp Lap
The final Q3 shootout saw Piastri secure pole with a brilliant last-gasp effort. Verstappen initially led after the opening runs, but Piastri’s stunning 1m 14.670s lap snatched the top spot.
Reflecting on his pole position, Piastri said:
“It was a great session, a very tough session with all the delays, red flags, and then also the tyres, the tyres were very, very tricky today. I think after yesterday, everyone thought the C6 was not too bad, and then today it was a real mystery. The team did a great job, put the car in a nice window. We’ve been trying a few different things this weekend, and we got into a nice place for Qualifying. The lap was good, I had about four cars [around me] in the last corner which didn’t help, but it was enough, so I’m very, very happy with the job we’ve done and excited for tomorrow now.”
George Russell secured third, using medium tyres instead of softs, while Lando Norris finished fourth in the second McLaren. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso took fifth, also opting for mediums.
Carlos Sainz’s impressive form continued with sixth for Williams, followed by his teammate Alexander Albon in seventh. Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.
Driver Reactions: A Mix of Joy and Frustration
Max Verstappen (2nd):
“We took a good step forward. The car felt better than in practice, but I lost a bit of time in the final sector. Still, it’s a solid position to fight from.”
George Russell (3rd):
“I am happy with P3 today. The car felt really strong out there. The team made a great call by choosing the medium tyre for our final run. I could have done better without a small mistake on my first Q3 lap.”
Lando Norris (4th):
“Never good enough in my final lap in quali. Everyone goes quicker, and I always go slower. Just not good enough.”
Fernando Alonso (5th):
“It was a beautiful surprise. We didn’t expect to be so high up. The car improved significantly since Friday.”
Lewis Hamilton (12th):
“I’m devastated. The car felt good, but we lacked grip with the soft tyres. It’s disappointing, especially here at Ferrari’s home race.”
Charles Leclerc (11th):
“The car was underperforming. We can’t expect miracles without significant improvements.”
Yuki Tsunoda (NC):
“It was a stupid mistake. I pushed too hard and paid the price. I’m ashamed and sorry to the team.”
Final Qualifying Grid: 2025 Emilia Romagna GP
| Position | No | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:14.670 |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:14.704 |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:14.807 |
| 4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:14.962 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1:15.431 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:15.432 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:15.473 |
| 8 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1:15.581 |
| 9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:15.746 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:15.787 |
| 11 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:15.604 |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:15.765 |
| 13 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:15.772 |
| 14 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:16.260 |
| 15 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | No Time |
| 16 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:16.379 |
| 17 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:16.518 |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:16.613 |
| 19 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:16.918 |
| NC | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | DNF |
Ferrari’s Home Nightmare
Ferrari’s first home Qualifying of the season turned disastrous, with Leclerc and Hamilton struggling with brake issues throughout practice and ultimately missing Q3. Antonelli, their young local star in Mercedes, also failed to make the cut.
Piastri’s pole sets the stage for an electrifying race at Imola, with Verstappen eager to challenge the McLaren driver and Mercedes looking to disrupt the podium fight.
