Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, celebrated his pole position in the qualifying parc ferme for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. This marks his eighth consecutive pole position in Formula 1, a feat that equals the legendary Ayrton Senna. Verstappen surpassed Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris from McLaren in an incredible qualifying session. It is worth noting that this achievement occurred 30 years after Senna’s tragic death at this same circuit.
The attention of Italian fans, known as Tifosi, was focused on Ferrari during the qualifying session at Imola. They hoped to see a scarlet red car secure the pole position. However, McLaren emerged as a strong contender, setting the fastest times in the third practice session on Saturday morning. Despite a disappointing Friday, Red Bull was determined to challenge both Ferrari and McLaren. In the end, Verstappen succeeded in his goal, setting a lap time of 1:14.746s, which was 0.074s faster than Piastri’s best effort.
Fernando Alonso faced a setback at the beginning of Q1, as his car was still being repaired after his accident in the third practice session. However, Aston Martin made a monumental effort to get Alonso back on track with over 10 minutes remaining in Q1. Alonso encountered some difficulties, running off track at Tamburello and going through the gravel. Despite his efforts, he could not avoid elimination in Q1, finishing with the slowest time. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg briefly held the provisional pole position before being overtaken by Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at the end of the session.
Valtteri Bottas from Sauber, Logan Sargeant from Williams, Zhou Guanyu and Kevin Magnussen from Haas were also eliminated in Q1. Magnussen expressed his frustration over the team radio after being hindered by Piastri during the final stages of the session. The stewards noted this incident and summoned Piastri for a post-session investigation. As a result, Alonso moved up one position in the final order, while Sargeant had his final lap time excluded and will start the Grand Prix from the back of the grid on Sunday.
In the second quarter, Leclerc took the lead with Yuki Tsunoda from RB in an impressive second place, just 0.03s behind the fastest time.
The competition at the top was fierce, with only 0.079s separating the top four drivers, who were driving different cars (Ferrari, RB Red Bull, and McLaren).
With time running out, Daniel Ricciardo threatened Sergio Perez’s chances of advancing and, unfortunately, Perez was eliminated in 11th place, along with Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly.
Perez fell victim to the incredibly tight field of Formula 1, finishing less than four tenths behind Leclerc in Q2.
Verstappen, on the other hand, continued his dominance leading the time sheets for the second consecutive session, putting him in strong contention for pole position.
However, the battle among the top 10 was expected to be Verstappen’s toughest challenge for pole in 2024, as McLaren and Ferrari showed impressive speed, matching the Red Bull team.
Verstappen set the initial benchmark with a time of 1:14.869s, with Norris close behind, just seven hundredths of a second off his first lap.
Despite Piastri and Norris coming close in second and third place, no one could match Verstappen’s time of 1:14.746s.
With difficulties in Sector 1, Leclerc and Sainz could only manage fourth and fifth place, disappointing the passionate Italian fans. George Russell led the charge for Mercedes in sixth place.
RB had an impressive qualifying session, with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo qualifying in seventh and ninth place, respectively, at their home base in Faenza.
Lewis Hamilton split the two RB drivers, and Nico Hulkenberg from Haas secured a place in Q3 once again, finishing in 10th place.
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Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton claimed another victory at the Monaco Grand Prix last Sunday. With a flawless performance, Hamilton led the race from start to finish and crossed the finish line in first place. This was Hamilton’s sixth consecutive victory this season, further solidifying his position as the championship leader.
The race in Monaco was full of excitement and twists. Right at the start, there was an accident involving two cars, which resulted in the deployment of the safety car. Hamilton managed to stay calm and take advantage of the opportunity to build a comfortable lead over his competitors. Despite the pressure from rival drivers, Hamilton showcased his skill and control, maintaining his lead until the end.
With this win, Hamilton extended his lead in the overall championship standings. He is now 30 points ahead of the second-placed driver. This season has been one of Hamilton’s most dominant, as he appears unstoppable on the track. If he continues at this pace, he has a great chance of securing his eighth world title.
After the race, Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the team and fans for their continuous support. He also highlighted the importance of Monaco in his heart, describing the track as a special place for him. With his victory in Monaco, Hamilton became the most successful driver in the history of this track, surpassing Ayrton Senna’s previous record.
The next race of the championship will be in Silverstone, England. Hamilton has a strong connection to this track, as it is his home race. Fans are eager to see if he will be able to maintain his winning streak and further increase his lead in the championship. With his current performance, everything indicates that Hamilton will continue to be the driver to beat this season.
