In a thrilling qualifying session at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Max Verstappen revealed the critical moment where his bid for pole position slipped away, allowing McLarenâs Oscar Piastri to claim the top spot at Imola. The Red Bull driver, who finished just 0.034 seconds behind Piastri, pinpointed tyre management issues as the key factor that cost him a third consecutive pole.
Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, had been on provisional pole earlier in the session, showcasing the improved pace of his RB21 after a challenging Friday practice. However, the introduction of Pirelliâs new C6 compound, the softest tyre in their range, proved to be a double-edged sword. While it offered grip, it was notoriously difficult to keep consistent over a full lap at the demanding Imola circuit. Verstappen explained that his lap was strong through the first sector, where he set a blistering pace, but the tyres began to overheat from there, causing him to lose time in crucial corners. A slight error at Turn 9, Piratella, where he ran wide over the kerbs, was particularly costly, erasing the advantage he had built early in the lap.
Data analysis from the session highlighted just how close the battle was, with Verstappen and Piastri virtually neck-and-neck until the penultimate corner, Turn 18. Verstappenâs minor mistakes on the unforgiving Imola track, known for its narrow layout and punishing gravel traps, proved decisive. Despite the setback, Verstappen remained optimistic about Red Bullâs progress, noting that the car felt better than it had all weekend and that recent upgrades were starting to deliver results. He acknowledged the challenge of overtaking at Imola but expressed confidence in his race pace, stating that sufficient speed could still see him challenge for the win.
Piastri, meanwhile, delivered a flawless final lap to secure his third pole of the season, despite encountering traffic in the last two corners. The Australianâs performance underscored McLarenâs strong form, though teammate Lando Norris could only manage fourth, behind Mercedesâ George Russell, who impressively used the medium C5 tyre to secure third. The session was not without drama, as Red Bullâs Yuki Tsunoda suffered a massive crash in Q1, flipping his car after losing control at the Variante Villeneuve chicane. Tsunoda walked away unharmed but was left to rue a âstupid mistakeâ that ended his session early.
Ferrari endured a nightmare on home soil, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q2, qualifying 11th and 12th respectively. Hamilton described the result as âdevastating,â while Leclerc admitted he was at a loss for words over the teamâs lack of pace. The Tifosi, hoping for a strong showing, were left disappointed as Ferrari failed to reach the top 10 at Imola for the first time in the circuitâs history.