Emilia Romagna GP: Oscar Piastri on pole position from Max Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc nightmare at Imola | F1 News
Oscar Piastri snatched pole position from Max Verstappen in a thrilling Qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix which saw both Ferraris eliminated before Q3 and two huge crashes.
Championship leader Piastri pipped Verstappen by just 0.034s in the last runs and will look to extend his 16-point advantage over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who will start fourth behind George Russell.
Norris was unable to improve on his last flying lap and faces a big challenge to return to winning ways when the lights go out in Imola on Sunday at 2pm, live on Sky Sports F1.
The home crowd was silenced when Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were knocked out in Q2 in 11th and 12th – giving Ferrari their worst Qualifying performance at Imola.
Yuki Tsunoda had a scary accident in Q1 when he flipped his Red Bull at high speed but was able to walk away, and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto also crashed on his first outing for the team.
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Franco Colapinto crashed his Alpine into the barriers at the end of Q1
Fernando Alonso secured his best grid position of 2025 in fifth, ahead of Williams pair Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, with Lance Stroll in eighth.
Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar continued to impress in ninth, with Pierre Gasly in 10th for Alpine.
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri just edged out title rival Max Verstappen for pole at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Tsunoda walks away from scary flip
The big moment from Qualifying came in Q1 when Tsunoda crashed at high-speed going into Turn 5, hitting the barrier hard and flipping his Red Bull over.
Tsunoda managed to walk away from what is one of the biggest accidents in recent F1 history and will start the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the back.
Yuki Tsunoda
Sky Sports F1’s Emilia Romagna GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Sunday May 18
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP build-up
2pm: The EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Emilia Romagna GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 2pm, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
