F1 Imola GP: Oscar Piastri Secures Thrilling Pole Over Verstappen

Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola by just 0.034 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver posted a top lap of 1:14.670 during the final Q3 runs on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Verstappen, who led after the first set of flying laps in Q3 with a 1:14.772, chased Piastri’s time but lost ground in the last two sectors. This result gives Piastri his third pole of the season and puts him at the front of the grid for Sunday’s highly anticipated race.

Championship rival Max Verstappen will start next to Piastri after missing out by the smallest of margins. Verstappen, who was fastest in sector one on his last attempt, couldn’t recover the tenth he needed by the finish. His ongoing season battles remain a key storyline following recent developments in the Max Verstappen departure.

George Russell put his Mercedes in third, setting a 1:14.807. Lando Norris, Piastri’s McLaren teammate and winner of last year’s Miami GP, followed in fourth position.

Fernando Alonso delivered his strongest session of 2025, earning fifth on the grid with the Aston Martin team. Alonso, along with teammate Lance Stroll in eighth, completed their fastest laps on Pirelli’s medium tire, which lasted longer than the softer, less durable new C6 compound. For more details on Pirelli’s tire strategies, you can refer to the official Formula 1 website.

Carlos Sainz, racing for Williams, secured sixth place. Alex Albon, his Williams teammate, took seventh after a tight midfield battle.

Rookie Isack Hadjar started ninth for Racing Bulls, while Pierre Gasly of Alpine rounded out the top ten. Both Aston Martin drivers advanced to Q3 with a different strategy, proving competitive as the session played out. Racing Bulls brought significant improvements for Imola this year as highlighted in the Racing Bulls Imola upgrades.

Ferrari had a difficult qualifying in front of home fans. Charles Leclerc missed out on Q3 by only 0.083 seconds and starts 11th, with Lewis Hamilton right behind in 12th after struggling on the soft tires. Leclerc’s recent Imola GP illness may have affected his performance.

Local favorite Andrea Kimi Antonelli, racing for Mercedes, qualified 13th in his first home Grand Prix. Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto ended up 14th, and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto managed 15th after crashing in Q1, yet making it through on his earlier lap.

The session saw two heavy crashes in Q1. Yuki Tsunoda lost control at Turn 5, causing his Red Bull to flip as it rolled backwards into the gravel. For more on safety measures in Formula 1, visit the FIA’s official site.

Tsunoda walked away without injury but will start at the back. Shortly after the restart, Franco Colapinto spun at the exit of Tamburello and crashed into the tire wall head-on.

Colapinto was also unhurt but is under review for entering the pitlane too early during the red flag period. Drivers who missed advancing from Q1 included Liam Lawson in 16th for Racing Bulls, followed by Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman for Haas.

Bearman briefly celebrated a fast enough lap for Q2, but race control later ruled that his time was not valid because of the crash stoppage. The session was filled with incident and late drama, but Piastri’s composure set him apart when it counted. The situation recalls earlier controversies involving Bearman and Alpine. For more on race regulations, check the FIA Sporting Regulations.

The top five starters for the Emilia Romagna GP are Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso. With two McLarens and a Red Bull in the first two rows, Sunday’s race is set for a close contest at Imola.

The field is tight and the track is known for rewarding drivers who qualify well, putting extra pressure on those starting further back. Racing resumes with Piastri leading the way after a standout performance in qualifying. For historical context on the Imola circuit, visit Wikipedia’s Imola page.