Max Verstappen saw off McLaren’s challenge to match Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
At the Imola venue which claimed Senna’s life 30 years ago, Verstappen’s drew level with the great Brazilian.
Oscar Piastri took second for McLaren – just 0.074 seconds behind Verstappen – with Lando Norris, who broke his duck in Miami a fortnight ago, only 0.091 sec adrift. However, Piastri was dropped three places for Sunday’s grid after blocking Haas’s Kevin Magnussen in Q1.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari, with George Russell sixth – half-a-second behind – and two places ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Follow latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX – LATEST UPDATES
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Charles Leclerc’s strategy decided (Lap 18/63)
“We are going plan B,” says Leclerc’s engineer.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez goes off track into the gravel, losing around five seconds, but he gets his Red Bull back on track!
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:29
Max Verstappen extends his lead (Lap 16/63)
Verstappen’s lead is getting bigger – it’s now 4.8 seconds, so enough for a pit stop not to matter!
The Red Bull is quick… who’d have thought it?!
Leclerc is 1.2 secs behind Norris, while Piastri has fallen back slightly from Sainz.
Are McLaren losing a bit of pace? Perhaps.
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Perez, Stroll, Ocon
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:25
Yuki Tsunoda pits (Lap 13/63)
Tsunoda the first of the frontrunners to pit – 2.3 secs – and he drops from ninth to 15th, in open air.
What is the pace of the hard tyre then?
Meanwhile, Alonso’s brakes were on fire after his pit stop, but more pace put the flames out! Bit mad!
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:22
Albon makes it back (lap 12/63)
Albon avoids cars speeding past him and makes it back to the pits, and switches back to medium tyres.
But he’s already a lap down! Nightmare for Williams!
Anyhow, at the front, Verstappen’s lead is now 3.1 seconds.
Oscar Piastri is very close to Carlos Sainz now, just 0.3 secs off, but can’t squeeze through after the home straight!
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Perez
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:19
Alex Albon in trouble! (Lap 10/63)
Albon: “I’ve got a problem, the tyre is not on properly.”
He is going slowly for Williams! He’s just pitted, can he make it back around?
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:17
Carlos Sainz:
A nervous Ferrari driver with Oscar Piastri right on his gearbox!
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:14
Max Verstappen opens up a two-second lead (Lap 7/63)
Verstappen lapping quicker than Norris right now, with a lead bang on two seconds.
Leclerc 1.4 secs off Norris, with Sainz a second further back.
Closest battle is Piastri in fifth, who is half-a-second off Sainz – but overtaking is tricky here with just one DRS zone!
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Perez
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:13
Lando Norris has DRS behind Max Verstappen (Lap 3/63)
The McLaren just about keeping in DRS range, 0.8 secs off Verstappen.
But all the cars pretty smoothly through the opening laps so far!
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Perez
Leclerc around a second off Norris, with Sainz just half-a-second off his team-mate!
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:08
Max Verstappen retains the lead at the start! (Lap 1/63)
It’s lights out – and Verstappen and Norris got away evenly, but the Red Bull keeps the lead heading into Tamburello!
Every car got a clean run – and Lewis Hamilton is up to seventh!
Yuki Tsunoda drops to P9, with Nico Hulkenberg up to eighth
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:05
Formation lap!
Max Verstappen leads the pack around for the formation lap!
Everybody on the medium tyre to start aside than Sergio Perez in 11th, who is on the hard tyre.
It’s set to be a one-stop race, hence the near-identity strategy amongst the drivers.
It’s time for race No 7!
Kieran Jackson19 May 2024 14:01