The Formula 1 weekend in Imola has been challenging for the drivers, especially during qualifying. Sergio Perez’s early exit in Q2 was a surprise for Red Bull, highlighting the pressure on the team’s second driver. While Max Verstappen celebrated his pole position, Perez’s session had already ended. Perez admitted it was a shame, as he believed they had the pace for a better result. Despite feeling optimistic after Friday’s practice sessions, Perez made mistakes in FP3 and qualifying, causing him to miss out on Q3. This underachievement puts Red Bull under more pressure from their rivals, and their second car could easily go unnoticed in such a competitive field. Perez, who is in a longer period of “proving himself” this season, needs to avoid a decline like last year.
At the other end of the grid, there are concerns about Logan Sargeant’s future with the Williams team. Team principal James Vowles openly discussed the possibility of replacing Sargeant, presenting it as an option for next year. Speculation about a mid-season change is looming. Sargeant’s performance in qualifying at Imola was frustrating, as his lap times were deleted, resulting in last place on the grid for the second time this season. Despite being stuck with an older and slower floor, his illegal lap time was only a few tenths slower than his teammate Alex Albon. However, this result didn’t count, highlighting the recurring issue of small errors overshadowing his good pace. Sargeant needs to show something tangible to secure his position in F1.
Daniel Ricciardo’s performance at Imola seemed respectable, with a ninth place grid position and an appearance in Q3. However, he admits it’s not as simple as it seems. Ricciardo has been outperformed by his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, throughout the weekend. Ricciardo struggled with high-speed direction changes in the first sector, which affected his overall performance. Despite beating Tsunoda in China and having a good sprint race in Miami, Ricciardo’s momentum seems to be fading. The pressure from Helmut Marko and doubts surrounding his abilities make it crucial for Ricciardo to perform consistently and not be overshadowed by Tsunoda.
Kevin Magnussen is facing a tough season, with Nico Hulkenberg shining at Haas. Magnussen’s future with the team is uncertain, and he needs a fresh start. Unfortunately, the qualifying result at Imola only added to his misery. Magnussen was already behind Hulkenberg throughout the weekend, and his final lap was disrupted by interference from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. This interference, which resulted in a grid penalty, left Magnussen over a second behind Hulkenberg. Magnussen believes something needs to change to avoid these problems from happening repeatedly. Despite feeling positive about the car’s performance, he was frustrated with the interference and the weak qualifying result that followed.
