Oscar Piastri pulled off a spectacular final-lap performance to grab pole position for the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.030 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday.
Oscar Piastri Late Lap Heroics
The McLaren driver waited until the final moments of Q3 to deliver a blistering lap time of 1m 14.670s, stealing pole from Verstappen, who had been leading the session until then. It was a bold and confident showing from the Australian, marking a major milestone in his F1 career.
Russell Takes a Risk, Lands P3
Mercedes’ George Russell surprised many by taking third place, despite choosing the harder medium tyres for his last run instead of the faster softs. His gamble paid off, placing him right behind the front row starters.
Mixed Fortunes for McLaren and Others
While Piastri shone, teammate Lando Norris couldn’t match his pace and settled for fourth. Fernando Alonso rounded out the top five for Aston Martin, putting in another strong performance.
Further down the order, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon impressed in their Williams cars, securing sixth and seventh respectively. The top ten was completed by Lance Stroll, rookie Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
Ferrari’s Home Race Woes
It was a tough day for Ferrari in front of their home fans. Neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton made it into Q3, finishing 11th and 12th. Hamilton has been battling brake issues all weekend. Young Italian Kimi Antonelli ended up 13th, unable to match Russell’s pace in the other Mercedes.
Drama and Crashes
The session saw its fair share of chaos. Franco Colapinto of Alpine reached Q2 on merit but crashed heavily in Q1, bringing out red flags. His car will need major overnight repairs.
Haas had a rough day too, with both Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman getting knocked out in Q1. Bearman’s best lap was unfortunately set after Colapinto’s crash halted the session.
Tsunoda’s Scary Moment
The biggest scare came from Yuki Tsunoda, who crashed at high speed and barrel-rolled early in Q1. Fortunately, he walked away unhurt, though his car suffered major damage.
Eyes on the Race
With Oscar Piastri leading the grid and several top contenders just behind, Sunday’s race at Imola is shaping up to be a thriller. Can the young Aussie hold off Verstappen and Russell? Fans are in for a treat.
