Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint grid with penalties applied

The return of F1's sprint race has thrown up a mouthwatering front row following a qualifying session on Friday that was hit by five red flags.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen survived the session and the wet weather to take pole position ahead of championship pacesetter Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari.

So far the duo have engaged in numerous duels across the three grands prix so far, and another is in prospect as they fight to set the grid for Sunday's grand prix.

With points on offer for the top-eight drivers - compared to only the top three in last year's sprints - the hoped-for aim is an improved level of scrapping for positions.

Behind the leading duo, Lando Norris starts third in his McLaren, alongside Kevin Magnussen for Haas, the Dane securing his team's best grid slot and equalling his best performance.

Norris' team-mate Daniel Ricciardo lines up sixth but on the backfoot after missing all of second practice with an issue the team has yet to fully explain.

Directly behind Ricciardo is Valtteri Bottas who also missed FP2 after Alfa Romeo changed the survival cell on his car, also leaving the Finn short of dry running track time.

Further back, Mercedes failed to get a car into the top-10 shoot-out for the first time in 10 years, leaving George Russell - quickest in second practice - and Lewis Hamilton a lowly 11th and 13th respectively.

Your full grid is as follows...

Related

Imola

Italian F1 icon Formulino dies at the age of 16

• August 14, 2023 23:27

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton praises fellow F1 driver for ‘leading by example’ following Imola heroics

• May 22, 2023 12:57
• 1