F1 news LIVE: Christian Horner sends dig McLaren’s way after Max Verstappen victory
Follow reaction after Verstappen’s brilliant win ahead of both McLarens in Emilia Romagna
Max Verstappen’s brilliant opening-corner move on Oscar Piastri fired him to victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Dutchman clinched a fourth successive win at Imola in Red Bull’s 400th race to end championship leader Piastri’s three-race winning run after taking the lead at the first chicane.
Verstappen was in control of the race but had to see off a late challenge, after a safety car slashed his lead, to clinch his second win of the season.
McLaren opted not to order Piastri to allow Lando Norris past in a bid to challenge Verstappen but the British driver ultimately made a brave move on his team-mate with five laps to go to finish second. Piastri’s lead to Norris was cut to 13 points, with Verstappen now 22 points behind the Australian.
Follow live updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ after Ferrari qualifying failure at Imola GP
Lewis Hamilton was “devastated” after suffering another blow in his first season at Ferrari during a captivating qualifying session at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday.
Hamilton, who admitted this week he wasn’t expecting his first season at Ferrari to be so “tough”, and teammate Charles Leclerc missed the opportunity to fight for pole in Imola, with both drivers knocked out of contention in Q2.
The pair will start alongside each other on the grid for Sunday’s race, with Leclerc a place ahead in 11th and Hamilton in 12th.
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ after Ferrari qualifying failure at Imola GP
NEW: Yuki Tsunoda starts in pit-lane
Inevitably, the Red Bull driver will start in the pits after his massive crash yesterday, with his car needing a massive rebuild job overnight.
A new chassis and new engine for Tsunoda.
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying 12th:
“Tough one, tough one,” said Hamilton, who has only managed one top-five finish in the first six races of the season.
“Ultimately, I feel super gutted, devastated, that we weren’t able to get through. I really feel we’ve made many positive steps over the weekend.
“When we put the new tyres on, we didn’t have any more grip, couldn’t go any faster, everyone else managed to switch on the tyres.
“To be in front of the Italian fans, first time for Ferrari, to not manage to get to Q3 is bittersweet.”
Lando Norris admits he's making too many mistakes
After finishing P4 in qualifying, Norris said: "I made a lot of mistakes, it is just never good enough in my final lap in qualifying.
"Everyone always goes quicker, and I go slower, so it is just not good enough. [There is nothing wrong] with the car, it is on pole and the best car on track.
"I am not just going to blame the car, it is on me. I've felt good all weekend, I felt good in Q1 and Q2, and I felt like there was lap time available.
"But when I try to go for the lap time, it just doesn't go. A lot of things have changed from last year, and in my whole career, qualifying has been my biggest strength by a long way.
"But this year, it is just not coming my way, and I think we understand the reasons why, but of course, I am not going to be the happiest about it, because I want to be fighting for pole, and things are not going the way they should.”
Haas ask for clarification on Bearman's lap time deletion
Haas have enquired with the FIA about their decision regarding Ollie Bearman’s final Q1 lap.
They hope for written clarification from race control over his lap time which was controversially deleted following a red flag after Franco Colapinto crashed.
Haas said: “After discussions last night with the FIA, we have subsequently asked for further written clarification on the decision making concerning Ollie Bearman’s final Q1 lap in order for us to review more comprehensively.
“We similarly asked what measures the FIA / Race Control can put in place moving forward to ensure that this situation is avoided in the future to the benefit of F1. Upon review we will be more informed to comment.”
Yuki Tsunoda taken to F1 medical centre after car flips upside-down in huge crash at Imola GP qualifying
Yuki Tsunoda has been taken to the Imola circuit’s medical centre after suffering a massive crash at the start of qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Japanese driver, at the start of his first flying lap in Q1, lost control of his car heading into the turn 5-6 chicane.
Tsunoda’s Red Bull car spun violently into the gravel before flipping into the catch fencing and barrier.
The 25-year-old walked away from the scene of the crash, but was taken to the medical centre for checks.
Yuki Tsunoda taken to F1 medical centre after car flips upside-down in huge crash
Max Verstappen after qualifying P2:
“The softest compound is difficult to keep them alive, tiny margins. George set his lap on a medium. Maybe they’re a bit too soft for this track.
“I felt happier on the mediums, the race is tomorrow and that’s where we score the points, I do think today was very good for us.
“I hope we pick up a bit of pace.”
FULL STARTING GRID:
2. Max Verstappen
3. George Russell
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Carlos Sainz
7. Alex Albon
8. Lance Stroll
9. Isack Hadjar
10. Pierre Gasly
11. Charles Leclerc
12. Lewis Hamilton
13. Kimi Antonelli
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Liam Lawson
16. Franco Colapinto*
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Ollie Bearman
20. Yuki Tsunoda
*Franco Colapinto received a one-place grid penalty for an infringement in qualifying
Lando Norris not worried about championship standings despite early deficit
Asked if he was thinking about the title standings, Norris said: “No, is the answer. I don’t care about it and won’t think about it. It is easy for things to change.
“Also Red Bull are not far behind, Mercedes are not far behind so they are doing a good job. But we (McLaren) are doing a better job.
“Every race is important and yes we know they have upgrades and they talk a lot but at the end of the day we need to just do a good job on Sunday.
“If we keep focusing on ourselves then we will be fine.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff absent from Imola GP for touching personal reason
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will be absent from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to his son graduating from college this weekend.
Wolff’s 23-year-old eldest son Benedict, one of his children from his previous marriage, is graduating from the University of Southern California and the Austrian executive has decided to stay in the United States.
Mercedes team representative Bradley Lord, Wolff’s long-term right-hand man, will take on the Austrian’s duties in the garage and with the press.
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