Max Verstappen continued his streak of dominance by clinching his eighth consecutive pole place in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Saturday, matching the legendary Ayrton Senna’s document.
This achievement comes three a long time after Senna’s tragic demise on the similar Italian circuit in 1994, including a poignant layer to Verstappen’s accomplishment.
“It’s a great start to the year but also very special 30 years since he passed away at this track,” stated Verstappen.
“Of course, very pleased to get pole here and in a way it’s a nice memory to him (Senna), he was an incredible Formula 1 driver especially in qualifying laps as well, so a great day for me and a great day for the team, I’m very very happy.”
Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was to have began alongside the unstoppable Dutchman on Sunday after posting the second-fastest time, 0.074 seconds behind, in a good qualifying session.
However, the Australian was docked three grid locations for impeding the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
That promoted McLaren teammate Lando Norris, winner final day out in Miami, to the entrance row.
The two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will set off from the second row with Piastri now alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the third row.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), and Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) rounded out the highest 10.
The obtrusive absentee from the primary 5 rows was the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who went out within the second qualifying session, the Mexican muttering “what a mess” on the group radio.
Tiny margins
Piastri had initially been thrilled to get so near taking pole.
“My lap was a bit scruff in the final corner, but it is so difficult to do a perfect lap at this circuit,” he stated earlier than the penalty was handed down.
Norris added: “Not a bad job, it’s all about tiny margins.”
After a chaotic third apply on an exquisite sunlit day on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Verstappen was swiftly on the tempo and went prime after eight minutes in 1:16.013 solely to be outpaced inside a minute by Piastri after which Norris, the McLarens endorsing their apply velocity.
Fernando Alonso’s troublesome day continued when his Aston Martin went off on the exit of Tamburello, taking a dive by means of the gravel, however avoiding any contact with the boundaries. He pitted, accepting he couldn’t enhance on twentieth and final on the grid.
Hulkenberg then went prime for Haas earlier than Verstappen outpaced him together with Leclerc as Q1 ended with Valtteri Bottas of Sauber, Logan Sargeant of Williams, Zhou Guanyu of Sauber, and Magnussen, within the second Haas, exiting with Alonso.
Hamilton was out early to prime Q2 forward of Russell earlier than the Red Bulls lastly discovered their tempo, Verstappen going prime in 1:15.386, regardless of operating huge at Rivazza, with Perez second. All have been operating on softs.
Leclerc then took the initiative with Tsunoda slotting into second place, all proof that Red Bull weren’t having it their very own manner – and the highest seven all inside half a second of the tempo.
On their second runs, Verstappen improved to take prime spot, however teammate Perez missed out on the top-10 shootout and was eradicated in eleventh together with Esteban Ocon of Alpine, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Alex Albon of Williams, and Pierre Gasly, sporting a Senna-yellow helmet, within the second Alpine.
The prime 4 have been separated by four-tenths of a second for the ultimate runs which noticed Verstappen, digging into his reserves of expertise, seize pole with a blinding lap in 1:14.746 – a transparent instance of an excellent driver delivering past the potential of his automobile.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
