Verstappen relief after "hectic" Imola pole
Verstappen relief after "hectic" Imola pole
Max Verstappen described Emilia Romagna Grand Prix qualifying as "hectic" after denying F1 championship rival Charles Leclerc pole position on Ferrari's home turf.
The reigning world champion ducked between five red-flag interruptions to clinch top spot on the grid for Saturday's 100km sprint, an upset given the Scuderia's pace leading up to Q3.
Whilst three of the five stoppages were caused by off-track excursions for Carlos Sainz, Kevin Magnussen and Lando Norris, countless other drivers ran across the gravel and grass lining the punishing Imola layout.
The session was further complicated by changeable conditions, with the track initially drying before the rain returned to complicate matters after Sainz's crash in Q2.
Assessing his session, Verstappen said: "It was tricky out there - dry then the rain.
"It was very slippery to also get the tyre temps to work. It was hectic, a long qualifying.
"In the end, happy to be here. It is an amazing track and it also really punishes you if you make a mistake, you can go in the wall. That is what we like to make it really hard and difficult.
"But really pleased with pole position."
On his weekend prospects, Verstappen added: "We know tomorrow and Sunday will be a bit different in terms of weather conditions but at least it is a good start to the weekend."
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
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- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
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- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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