Imola gives credit to Max Verstappen: he was in difficulty in free practice with a Red Bull RB20 which struggled to assimilate the technical innovations, but at the moment that matters the Dutchman shows how much… a monster he is. Max takes his eighth pole in a row (seven this year plus the last one in 2023), equaling a certain Ayrton Senna! Verstappen shattered the Enzo and Dino Ferrari record for ground effect single-seaters with a time of 1’14″746.
Verstappen was able to take advantage of a very powerful slipstream in Nico Hulkenberg’s T1 which helped him stay ahead of the McLarens who were only a few thousandths apart. Oscar Piastri is second with a gap of 74 thousandths on the “Superhero”, a sign that the MCL38 is perhaps the most competitive single-seater of the moment. The Australian risks ruining the amazing weekend in Emilia because he could pay three positions on the grid due to impiding. The beneficiary will be his teammate, Lando Norris, third at just 91 thousandths.
The Dutch king who received the 39th wheel of the Pirelli from the Bologna center forward, Joshua Zirkzee, his compatriot, will have to deal with McLaren after being beaten in Miami. Ferrari somewhat disappointed the expectations of the Prancing Horse fans who were expecting Charles Leclerc’s pole position. The Monegasque with 1’14″970 takes two tenths of a second from Max, while Sainz leaves almost five. Judging from the starting grid (everyone knows how important track position is at Imola), one might say that Ferrari’s update package SF-24 is not enough to compete with Red Bull and McLaren. It would be a hasty assessment: the red car, which still doesn’t excel in the flying lap (is there still something missing in the preparation?), manages to shine in the race.
The two Ferraris, with the possible “punishment” of Piastri, could find themselves with two cars in the second row: the pace of the two Carlettis in the simulations was very good, equal to the McLarens and better than the Red Bull. In Maranello they were waiting for the start at the pole and in the Prancing Horse garage there is a bit of disappointment, because the SF-24 still suffers from the lap preparation which costs something in T1. Faced with the red tide there was the desire to give something concrete to the fans, but the points are awarded on Sunday and the Scuderia seems very competitive.
George Russell arrived within a thousandth of Carlos Sainz’s red, a sign that the Englishman was able to extract everything there was from the W15, finally equipped with a power unit with a truly advanced map, while Lewis Hamilton didn’t put everything together only eighth with the other Mercedes. The seven-time world champion conceded three tenths of a second to his younger teammate.
Little Yuki Tsunoda slipped between the two silver and black arrows. The Japanese takes Racing Bull to seventh position, even though in free practice he finished in third place, he had hinted that he could aspire to a more prestigious position. Let’s be clear, the Faenza team is having a very good home weekend, given that Daniel Ricciardo also finished in ninth place, a sign that RB VCARB 01 has improved a lot and can aspire to stay in the Top 10.
Nico Hulkenberg continues to amaze with Haas: the German reached Q3 with just one set of softs and was content with having made it through the last cut. The difference with Magnussen is becoming wider and wider and the idea that an Ollie Bearman is training behind the two starters means something.
Sergio Perez did not enter Q3 with Red Bull: the Mexican is 11th on the grid, almost certainly affected by the accident in FP3. Checo almost lost his car for the second time at the exit of the Variante Gresini and the mistake cost him dearly.
Esteban Ocon was content with 12th position with the best Alpine, while the other transalpine with the A524 was 15th: the gap between the two was large, over half a second! Lance Stroll suffers with Aston Martin: the Silverstone team has brought an important package of innovations that do not seem to adapt to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari track. The Canadian is 13th ahead of Alexander Albon who is 14th with Williams: the feeling is that Grove’s team has made a small leap to break away from the back of the grid.
The Saubers had no hope of getting out of Q1: Valtteri Bottas is 16th followed by Guanyu Zhou. The C44 brought some updates, but the positive effect was not seen. Kevin Magnussen is 18th with Haas while his teammate Hulkenberg had climbed up to third place overall in Q1. It must be said that the Dane was prevented by Oscar PIastri who risks ruining his position on the grid because he ended up under investigation by the college of sports commissioners.
Bad Fernando Alonso with the Aston Martin: the mechanics of the Silverstone team had time to rebuild the AMR24 after the accident in FP3 at the second corner of the Rivazza which the Spaniard became the protagonist of a long turn at the second of the Tamburello: ne the “Verdona” must have suffered and the Asturian remained out of the game. Bad weekend for Alonso.
Also disappointed is Logan Sargeant who saw his best time which had brought him between the two Saubers cancelled: the American ran out of time so for a change he was last, although he had a Williams capable of aiming for a higher position. on…
#monster #Max #difference #Imola #McLaren #Ferrari
