Qualifying Highlights | 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Summary

Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the third time this season after a dramatic and close qualifying session. The session saw unexpected eliminations, with both Ferrari drivers knocked out, and Aston Martin’s medium tire gamble proving successful. Piastri edged out Max Verstappen by just 0.003 seconds, with George Russell securing a top-five spot on medium tires. Despite a tense and unpredictable session, Piastri’s solid performance under pressure earned him the pole, setting the stage for an exciting race ahead.

Takeaways

• 😀 Yuki Tsunoda crashes into the barriers at the Vner nerve chicane, causing a red flag and highlighting the tightness of the track.
• 😀 Despite a violent impact with the barriers, Yuki Tsunoda manages to exit the car under his own power, showing resilience.
• 😀 Drivers such as Oliver Bman and Esteban Ocon have their times deleted for not completing laps before the red flag was deployed.
• 😀 In a surprising turn, the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggle, with both being eliminated in Q2.
• 😀 Aston Martin's tire strategy, using a medium tire, proves to be a key factor in Fernando Alonso’s strong performance, advancing him past the Ferraris.
• 😀 Oscar Piastri achieves pole position for the third time this season, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by 0.03 seconds.
• 😀 Lando Norris shows competitive speed, but ultimately remains in third position after failing to improve in his final lap.
• 😀 Max Verstappen continues to struggle with grip but still manages to perform well enough for a strong second-place finish.
• 😀 The Williams team, led by Alex Albon, shows promise, with Albon securing 5th place in Q3, an impressive result for the team.
• 😀 Despite some intense competition, drivers like George Russell and Carlos Sainz improve their lap times, with Russell securing a 4th-place finish on medium tires.

Q & A

What caused the red flag during the qualifying session?

The red flag was deployed after Yuki Tsunoda crashed into the barriers at the Vner nerve chicane, resulting in a violent impact. Fortunately, he was able to exit the car under his own power.

How did the qualifying session unfold for some of the drivers at the bottom end?

At the bottom end of the grid, drivers like Bortletto and Hulenberg were fighting for a chance to improve their lap times. Bortletto managed to improve his lap, giving him a chance to progress, while Hulenberg went off into the gravel and lost his chance to improve.

Why was Oliver Bman's time deleted during the session?

Oliver Bman's time was deleted because he did not complete his lap before the red flag was deployed.

How did Aston Martin's strategy impact the outcome of qualifying?

Aston Martin's decision to use a medium tire gamble paid off, with Stroll securing sixth position, and both Ferraris, including Hamilton, being eliminated from Q2.

What was significant about Max Verstappen's qualifying performance?

Max Verstappen was able to claim provisional pole after a strong first sector, but despite his strong pace, he missed out on pole position by 0.03 seconds to Oscar Piastri.

How did Oscar Piastri perform in the final stages of qualifying?

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive lap, securing pole position for the third time this season, narrowly edging out Max Verstappen by 0.03 seconds.

What role did slipstreaming play in Carlos Sainz's performance?

Carlos Sainz benefited from a slipstream behind Gabriel Bortletto, which helped him improve his lap time and position himself ahead of his teammate, ultimately securing eighth position.

What was the performance of the Williams drivers during qualifying?

Both Williams drivers were competitive in qualifying, with Alex Albon improving to fifth place, while Logan Sargeant also showed strong pace in the session.

How did Lando Norris perform in the final stages of qualifying?

Lando Norris was unable to improve his lap time in the final stages of qualifying and remained in fourth position, behind both Piastri and Verstappen.

What was the outcome for Lewis Hamilton and the Ferraris in qualifying?

Both Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, were eliminated from Q2. Hamilton, in particular, faced a major disappointment, finishing in 9th and 10th positions.