Gran Premio Emilia-Romagna - Qualifying: Oscar Piastri is the boss

The drivers knew they would have to meticulously manage the tire temperatures on a track exceeding 40 degrees. However, nothing prepared the 20 drivers on the grid for performing in a qualifying session that was very intense and filled with drama.

Q1:

Yuki Tsunoda was involved in the most visually impressive crash of the 2025 season. Under high pressure, the Japanese driver spun out after placing his left front wheel on the inner curb of turn 6. Losing the rear due to this instability, Tsunoda went into a spin. His car continued its course into the gravel, flipped over the tire barrier, and performed a second slow-speed roll. Fortunately, the Red Bull driver managed to exit his car and walked to the medical vehicle. A red flag was issued to allow the marshals to ensure the barriers were not too damaged.

When Fridays don't smile on Max Verstappen, the driver and his engineers have always managed since the beginning of the season to rectify things on Saturday. This was notably the case in Japan, where he secured a fantastic pole position despite a very discreet start to the weekend. This salvage work is still underway in Imola. During his first lap in Q1, the four-time world champion recorded a 1:15.175. This time put him more than 3 tenths ahead of his closest pursuer, Oscar Piastri.

At the end of the session, a second red flag interrupted this Q1. Just as the clock hit zero, Franco Colapinto lost his Alpine by clipping the grass between turns 3 and 4. Flavio Briatore had specifically asked the young Argentine not to wreck the car. Upon Colapinto's arrival as a main driver to replace Jack Doohan, it was announced that the former Williams driver had 5 races to convince the team management. Despite his initial stellar performances for Williams, Colapinto had also made a memorable impact with his impressive off-track excursions at the end of the 2024 season.

Aston Martin is the team that brought the most improvements in Emilia-Romagna. These modifications on the halo, the floor, the barriers, the edges, the diffuser, the engine cover, and the beam wing proved fruitful in Q1, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finishing this first qualifying session in 3rd and 4th positions, respectively.

Eliminated in Q1: Liam Lawson (16th), Nico Hülkenberg (17th), Esteban Ocon (18th), Oliver Bearman (19th), and Yuki Tsunoda (20th)

Q2:

The start of Q2 was delayed for several minutes as the FIA decided whether Oliver Bearman had set his last session time before or after the red flag caused by Franco Colapinto's accident. The Haas driver's second fastest time would have easily allowed him to advance to Q2, but it was immediately canceled by race direction. Ultimately, Bearman's time was not reinstated, eliminating him in Q1. This elimination benefited Gabriel Bortoleto, who would not have been able to participate in Q2 without the elimination of his fellow rookie.

Indeed, Gabriel Bortoleto recorded the 15th best time in Q1 while Bearman was eliminated in 19th position. The Englishman's second lap would have placed him in 10th position. Speaking to Laurent Dupin, Oliver Bearman described the F1 decision as unfair.

While Williams is one of the only teams on the grid not to have brought improvements, the FW47 is performing very well at Imola. It was Carlos Sainz who took the fastest time at the end of Q2. Surprisingly, Alexander Albon was slower than his garage neighbor in the hierarchy. The Thai driver recorded the 7th fastest time of this Q2.

The other excellent surprise of this Q2 was Aston Martin. The team based in Silverstone decided to send out both of its drivers on medium tires. A daring but successful gamble that allowed Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso to advance to Q3.

There was much less rejoicing at Ferrari. Both prancing horses were eliminated in Q2. This significant underperformance particularly frustrated Charles Leclerc, who threw his steering wheel in frustration after being eliminated in 11th position. On a circuit where overtaking is difficult, a tedious Sunday seems to be looming for Leclerc and Hamilton.

Eliminated in Q2: Charles Leclerc (11th), Lewis Hamilton (12th), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (13th), Gabriel Bortoleto (14th), and Franco Colapinto (15th)

At the end of the first respective attempts by each, it was Max Verstappen at the top of the standings. The current reigning world champion managed to set a time 49 thousandths faster than Oscar Piastri. Despite this lead, the Australian managed to maximize his second lap to secure the third pole position of his career.

The McLaren driver now has as many pole positions as Max Verstappen this season. Lando Norris was surprisingly off the pace throughout the afternoon. Ultimately, last year's vice-world champion qualified only in fourth position, just under three-tenths behind his teammate. Yet, since its return to the calendar, Imola has always been a track Lando Norris favored. It was notably there that he secured the second podium of his career in 2021.

Faced with very hot track temperatures, George Russell and his team chose to leave the garage with the yellow-banded tires instead of the C6. The British driver will start 3rd on the grid. Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly complete the top 8.