Oscar Piastri seized Imola GP pole by a razor-thin margin over Max Verstappen as the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix qualifying session delivered one of the most dramatic spectacles of the current Formula 1 season.
The session which spanned over 90 minutes due to multiple red flags showcased the unpredictable nature of the sport and the relentless pursuit of perfection by the world’s best drivers.
The qualifying session began under clear skies but the tranquility was quickly shattered by a series of incidents that would define the narrative of the day.
The first of these came in Q1 where Williams’ Alex Albon initially set the pace with a 1:16.164, taking advantage of an early clear track before chaos ensued.
Yuki Tsunoda’s crash at the Villeneuve chicane was the first major incident. The Japanese driver pushing his Red Bull to the limit took too much kerb, bottomed out and lost control at high speed.
His Red Bull skipped across the gravel, became airborne and struck the catch-fencing, resulting in significant damage but fortunately no injury. The red flag was immediately deployed, halting the session for 14 minutes as marshals worked to recover the car and repair the barriers.
Once the session resumed, Max Verstappen wasted no time in asserting himself posting a 1:15.175 to take provisional Imola GP pole while Oscar Piastri slotted into second, three-tenths behind the reigning world champion.
However, the drama was far from over as Franco Colapinto became the next victim of Imola’s unforgiving layout. The Argentinian making his return to Formula 1 with Alpine lost control at the Tamburello chicane, crashing heavily and bringing out the second red flag of Q1.
With the clock ticking down, drivers scrambled to get clean laps in before the end of Q1. The disruptions meant that some of the usual front-runners found themselves under pressure to avoid a shock elimination.
Ultimately, the likes of Alex Albon and Lance Stroll managed to progress while others narrowly escaped the drop zone. The end of Q1 saw a collective sigh of relief as the field was whittled down but the sense of unpredictability lingered.
Q2 began with renewed intensity but proved particularly challenging for Ferrari and home favorite Kimi Antonelli.
Despite the fervent support of the Tifosi, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton-now racing for Ferrari-struggled with pace and balance, a continuation of the difficulties they had experienced during practice sessions including persistent brake issues.
Their inability to extract performance from the car resulted in a double elimination for the Scuderia in Q2, with Leclerc finishing 11th and Hamilton 12th. Antonelli likewise was unable to progress marking a disappointing outcome for the Italian contingent.
As Q3 commenced, the battle for Imola GP pole intensified. The initial runs saw Verstappen set the benchmark holding a slender 0.049-second advantage over Oscar Piastri with Lando Norris and George Russell close behind.
The choice of tyres became a key talking point as Russell and Alonso opted for the medium compound in an attempt to extract more consistent performance over a flying lap while most others including Piastri and Verstappen stuck with the softs.
The soft C6 tyre in particular was proving difficult to keep alive for an entire lap, adding another layer of complexity to the drivers’ approach.
In the final moments of Q3, the tension reached its peak. Verstappen who had looked formidable throughout the session pushed hard on his last attempt but lost crucial time in the second sector.
Oscar Piastri undeterred by traffic and the pressure of the moment delivered a near-flawless lap, clocking a 1:14.670.
This effort was enough to claim Imola GP pole, edging out Verstappen by just 0.034 seconds handing the McLaren driver his third pole position of the season.
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Verstappen despite his best efforts, had to settle for second while George Russell’s gamble on the medium tyres paid off as he secured third place, narrowly ahead of Lando Norris.
Fernando Alonso delivered a solid performance for Aston Martin, securing fifth place and demonstrating the value of his experience and tyre management skills.
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon finished sixth and seventh respectively for Williams as Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten, each capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the chaotic session to secure valuable grid positions for their respective teams.
