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Pre-race thoughts from Lando Norris: “I just want to have a fun race and to try and get forward and do some overtakes, I’m still aiming for a podium and a good result.”
And George Russell, who starts one place ahead of Norris in third: The aim has definitely got to be the podium, how we achieve that I’m not too sure. We need to see at the beginning, obviously Lando is starting behind and I will do my best to keep him there.”
Lewis Hamilton is enjoying his first race in Italy as a Ferrari driver, even if their car is badly underperforming. “It’s such an honour to be here, I’m filming everything because it’s the first time seeing everyone here,” Hamilton said. “I really want to give [the fans]. the best race possible today. This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, so I will take that energy and keep pushing. We never give up and we’re going to get there.”
Ollie Bearman is the back marker on the grid, but Haas have asked the FIA for written clarification of the decision that saw their driver just miss out on a place in Q2. Bearman had his fastest lap deleted when he crossed the line a fraction after the first qualifying session was stopped due to Franco Colapinto’s heavy crash.
Haas said they had sought clarification after discussions with the FIA on Saturday night. “We similarly asked what measures the FIA/Race Control can put in place moving forward to ensure that this situation is avoided in the future to the benefit of F1,” the team added, in quotes reported by Reuters.
The FIA said Bearman crossed the line 3.3 seconds after the red flag signal was shown but the driver said he had not seen a light. “We get the red light on our dash. That for me didn’t happen until quite a way after I crossed the line,” he said. “I feel like once they make a decision, even if it’s clearly wrong, they’re not going to turn back on it.”
Colapinto, who has replaced Jack Doohan in the Alpine paddock, picked up a one-place grid penalty for inadvertently entering the pit fast lane too early after Yuki Tsunoda’s crash. The Argentinian will now start in 16th place.
Imola’s Formula One history is tinged with tragedy, and the circuit’s future looks uncertain – but it has still delivered some extraordinary moments:
The grid
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
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George Russell (Mercedes)
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Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
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Carlos Sainz (Williams)
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Alex Albon (Williams)
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
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Isack Hadjar (RacingBulls)
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
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Liam Lawson (RacingBulls)
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)
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Esteban Ocon (Haas)
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Oliver Bearman (Haas)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – pit lane
Preamble
Welcome to Imola, where Oscar Piastri continues his world title tilt on pole after just pipping the defending champion, Max Verstappen, in qualifying. The Thunder from Down Under (as I’m christening Piastri in the hope it catches on) has won four of the season’s first six races, including the last three in Bahrain, Jeddah and Miami.
The Australian appears to have overtaken Lando Norris as McLaren’s leading man, but can he continue his red-hot grand prix form as F1 begins its European swing? Norris has endured another frustrating weekend trailing his teammate, and starts fourth on the grid today, with Mercedes’ George Russell alongside him in third.
Verstappen, pole-sitter in the last two races but beaten by Piastri, will be eager to respond in kind with a third straight win at Imola; his Red Bull teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, starts from the pit lane after a big crash in qualifying. Aston Martin impressed, with Fernando Alonso fifth and Lance Stroll eighth, sandwiching the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
As for Ferrari, returning to home turf has been a chastening experience, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both failing to make it out of Q2 and starting 11th and 12th today. Can they give fans at Imola anything to cheer, or will Italy have to start claiming Piastri as one of their own? We’ll find out soon enough; lights out at 2pm BST.
