F1 | Qualifying | Imola GP | Piastri takes pole after disrupted session - Motorsport

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Oscar Piastri delivered a sensational lap to take pole position for the 2025 F1 Imola GP after a chaotic and crash-strewn Qualifying session at Imola, which featured multiple red flags and no shortage of surprises.

As Formula 1 roared into Imola for Round 7 of the 2026 season, anticipation ran high. Franco Colapinto’s comeback, the debut of Pirelli’s new C6 compound, and Kimi Antonelli’s first home Grand Prix all added to the buzz of a weekend already dominated by McLaren. The team had led all three practice sessions—Piastri fastest on Friday and Norris topping FP3 on Saturday morning—and capped it off with a commanding pole.

Here’s how an action-packed Saturday 2025 F1 Imola GP Qualifying unfolded.

Q1: Opening mayhem and a shocking crash

Qualifying at the 2025 F1 Imola GP began at 14:00 local time, with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg first on track. Hülkenberg set the initial benchmark, but Bortoleto quickly improved. Fernando Alonso then went fastest before Williams’ Alexander Albon topped the times with a 1:16.164. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc followed closely behind.

A major crash by Yuki Tsunoda at Turn 6 brought out a red flag. Although unhurt, his RB21 suffered severe damage, including a flip onto the tyre barriers. The session paused for barrier repairs and car recovery.

After a lengthy delay, Q1 resumed with 12:13 on the clock. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was prematurely released into the pit lane and may face a grid penalty. As action resumed, most drivers returned to track, though Ferrari and McLaren initially held back. Both McLaren drivers set out with over eight minutes to spare, having not yet recorded a time.

Carlos Sainz was the first to dip under 1:16, but Max Verstappen later set the session’s fastest time at 1:15.175. Oscar Piastri followed in second, ahead of Alonso. A brief incident involving Mercedes’ Antonelli and a Sauber was noted but not investigated.

With one minute left, Bortoleto climbed to P15, pushing Bearman into the drop zone. Moments later, Colapinto crashed heavily at Tamburello, bringing out another red flag. Though unhurt, he joined Tsunoda at the Medical Centre. Lance Stroll impressed with P4 on medium tyres.

Bearman’s lap time was deleted for finishing under red flag conditions, though video evidence showed he crossed the line after the flag. The incident remains under review. Colapinto advanced to Q2 but could not continue due to car damage.

Out in Q1:

Liam Lawson
Nico Hülkenberg
Esteban Ocon
Oliver Bearman
Yuki Tsunoda (no time set)

Q2: Willams brilliant as Ferrari falls apart

Following a lengthy delay and review, Gabriel Bortoleto retained his place in Q2, while Haas’ Oliver Bearman was forced to settle for P19. The Sauber rookie led the cars onto the circuit, even before Race Control officially announced the decision. Max Verstappen soon followed and quickly set the early benchmark with a 1:15.400, after Bortoleto’s initial 1:16.683. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton slotted into P2 and P3 respectively, though George Russell later moved ahead of both with a 1:15.551.

However, McLaren quickly emerged as the team to beat. Lando Norris went fastest with a 1:15.261, only for teammate Oscar Piastri to improve that to a 1:15.241. Further down the order, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar impressed with P7, while Kimi Antonelli managed P10. Carlos Sainz held P9 with a 1:16.108, just behind Fernando Alonso.

As the final runs began with under five minutes remaining, all teams except Aston Martin stayed on soft tyres. Aston Martin, confident after strong Q1 performances, attempted to replicate their pace on mediums.

Hadjar improved to P4, while Antonelli reached P8. Hamilton remained in P7, and Leclerc in P6, both unable to improve. Sainz, however, delivered a stunning 1:15.198 to top the session. Albon managed only P7.

In the closing moments, both Alonso and Lance Stroll posted strong laps that eliminated Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton. Antonelli also missed out, finishing P13. Consequently, Ferrari’s home qualifying ended in disappointment, with both drivers out before Q3.

Out in Q2

Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli
Gabriel Bortoleto
Franco Colapinto (no time set)

Q3: Piastri the top performer in Qualifying at the 2025 F1 Imola GP

The final segment of Qualifying began with all ten drivers heading out on soft tyres for a thrilling 12-minute showdown. Aston Martin set the early benchmark, with Lance Stroll clocking a 1:15.767, narrowly ahead of Fernando Alonso. However, Isack Hadjar quickly moved ahead with a 1:15.746.

McLaren then asserted their dominance. Oscar Piastri delivered a 1:14.821, edging teammate Lando Norris, who set a 1:14.962. Max Verstappen soon claimed provisional pole with a 1:14.772. George Russell slotted into P4, followed by Hadjar in P5. Stroll and Alonso sat in P6 and P7, with Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon, and Pierre Gasly completing the top ten.

With five minutes remaining, drivers returned to the pits to switch to their final tyre sets. As they re-emerged with three minutes to go, Russell, Alonso, and Stroll opted for medium compounds, hoping to replicate Aston Martin’s earlier pace.

Piastri struck first with his flying lap, improving to a 1:14.670 to retake provisional pole. Verstappen responded with a strong first sector, but ultimately fell short, settling for P2. Albon moved up to P5, while Norris remained in P3, unable to better his earlier time. Russell, however, improved and snatched P3 from Norris.

As a result, Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the 2025 F1 Imola GP, ahead of Verstappen and Russell.