Excellent news for followers of “old style” F1, the Imola observe has seen the return of sure gravel traps. The observe remains to be “hilly” and tough to learn completely. Particularly when the wind will get concerned. Attaining pole just isn’t synonymous with an excellent begin right here.
The groups, once more in Europe, are all bringing new options. However they’re roughly quite a few and roughly vital. Observe that there have been a number of exits within the final free apply session together with that of Alonso and we needed to work arduous on the automobile to make it prepared for qualifying.
Q1 – Alonso eradicated
The 2 Alpines determined to inaugurate the observe for this qualification. The passage to Q2 will likely be very tense as a result of the drivers are held inside a handful of thousandths of a second. On the observe we’ve got completely different methods with gentle and medium tires. Some will attempt to save the gentle tires for the beginning of the race tomorrow.
Ocon units the provisional greatest time in 1:16.645. Hamilton in tender is 7 hundredths behind. Stroll or Sainz do not do higher than Ocon. We’d like Leclerc to dislodge the Frenchman. Odd. Norris quickly beats Leclerc. Ah, Albon is the primary on this qualification to make a “determine” at Rivazza with the wind chopping off the downforce. Perez is 2 tenths behind Norris who posted a 1:16.194.
And right here is Vertstappen in 1:16.013 10 minutes from the top of this Q1. And Piastri dislodges him! Good lap from the Australian in 1:15.940. We nonetheless have 6 drivers with no time. Ocon improved his time and moved as much as seventh place however rapidly fell to eleventh with Tsunoda, or others who improved. Gasly climbs into 4th place, very near the lead. Norris beats his teammate. We really feel that they are going to combat till the checkered flag of this Q1. Alonso goes off into the gravel! With grass and gravel, as quickly as you transcend the observe you pay money!
Between Albon and Sargeant, the 2 Williams don’t have any time. It is mounted for Albon in twelfth place. This will likely be arduous at first. Even the drivers who we predict are “secure” return on observe for one final lap. 2 minutes from the top, we’ve got Magnussen, Alonso, Hülkenberg, Zhou and Sargeant at risk. Bottas or Ricciardo are simply above the purple zone.
sixteenth time for Zhou who won’t progress to Q2. Bottas moved as much as 14th following being handed by Sargeant. Hülkenberg on the high of the timesheet! This pushes Sargeant away. Alonso is in his stand and can due to this fact be eradicated! twentieth?! Verstappen takes the lead once more. Hamilton is at risk in fifteenth place. Nevertheless it occurs.
Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen (what a slap towards Hülkenberg), Alonso and Sargeant are eradicated. Sargeant had his time eliminated. Piastri may take penalty locations for hindering Magnussen. And sorry, however the two Alpines are in Q2!
Q2 – Perez eradicated
The Mercedes sit on the high of the timesheet, Hamilton forward of Russell. Nevertheless it’s not Peru with 1:16.197. Verstappen reveals himself by lighting all sectors in purple (best possible occasions). This provides 1:15.386 whereas he misplaced 1 or 2 tenths in Rivazza! HA-LLU-CI-NANT! However to see if he stayed inside the observe limits. Perez on broken-in tires is at 467 thousandths. Sainz would be the first driver with Verstappen to change to new softs. We will evaluate.
Second time for Sainz, however removed from Verstappen. Piastri approaches Pink Bull driver’s time and Leclerc beats him! 1:15.328. Oh how shut it’s. Tsunoda is second to 30 thousandths! With half the time spent in Q2, we’ve got Russell within the purple zone for 3 thousandths, Gasly, Ocon, Stroll and Albon.
Albon returns to the observe with new tires. twelfth time for him, 3 thousandths behind Hamilton! The identical time as Russell. Tsunoda and Verstappen determine to remain within the pits and save a set of latest tires. Perez seventh additionally does this. It’s kind of dangerous. Oh no, he nonetheless comes out, similar to Verstappen.
Ocon eighth provisionally. Russell 6 (so Ocon 9), Hamilton seventh (so Ocon tenth) and Hülkenberg pushes once more the Frenchman eleventh. Stroll is eradicated. Ricciardo ninth. Sainz is at risk! sixth time for Sainz. Ricciardo falls to tenth. Perez is eleventh and eradicated for now. Verstappen climbs to the highest of the occasions in 1:15.176. And Perez stays eleventh! One other slap between teammates.
Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Albon and Gasly are eradicated. The Alpine didn’t discover the little further of Q1 and above all Gasly discovered himself overtaken by Ocon.
Q3 –
Verstappen determined to take a time to disgust everybody. It nonetheless lights up sectors 1 and a pair of in purple. Come on, Rivazza….and 1:14.869! However we’re flawed. Norris is simply 73 thousandths behind in 1:19.942. Piastri breaks his tooth however indicators the third provisional time. Sufficient hole for Leclerc to slide between the 2 McLarens.
Sainz for his half is 5 tenths behind Verstappen. A gap. Russell is simply behind (run-in tires), and Tsunoda just isn’t far-off at 596 thousandths, in seventh place. Hamilton is eighth, greater than 1 second behind, then Hülkenberg and eventually Ricciardo who has no time but.
Come on, following a couple of minutes of calm, everybody will get once more on observe. Sainz would be the first to restart. We’ve got the impression that Leclerc has regained a number of the lead within the group over the previous few grand prix. The beginning of the spherical for Sainz or Leclerc just isn’t the most effective. Sainz improves however stays fifth. Leclerc improves however stays third, 1 tenth behind Verstappen.
Verstappen beats Verstappen! 1:14,746! Norris will get nearer however stays second. And Piastri beats Norris. Pole place for Verstappen, for 74 thousandths. And he made a bit of mistake in Rivazza’s second. He needed to work arduous and let his pleasure explode on the radio.
2024 Imola GP qualifying outcome
In the meanwhile, Piastri is second, however may take a spot penalty for hindering Magnussen. The McLarens affirm that they have to be counted on in qualifying. thirty ninth pole for Verstappen. However, above all, it’s his eighth in row. He equals Ayrton Senna on this level.
[Mise à jour : Piastri a reçu 3 places de pénalité pour avoir gêné Magnussen (ironique non ?). Piastri partira 5e. Le classement a été mis à jour.]
