F1 Imola GP 2024 LIVE: Qualifying results, times and updates as Max Verstappen clams pole

Charles Leclerc looks to build on Ferrari’s quick pace for qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Lando Norris returns to McLaren HQ after Miami Grand Prix triumph

Formula 1 returns to Europe for the first time this season as the iconic Imola circuit hosts the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend.

Lando Norris claimed a stunning win – his first in F1 – last time out in Miami, beating Max Verstappen after a perfectly timed safety car and securing McLaren’s first win since September 2021.

Nonetheless, Verstappen still has a healthy 33-point lead in the drivers’ championship to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third following another podium in Miami.

There’s work to do for Lewis Hamilton, though, who is enduring his worst-ever start to an F1 season, currently languishing down in ninth. Last year’s race at Imola was cancelled due to heavy flooding in the region, while Verstappen triumphed in 2022 and 2021.

Follow latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• Max Verstappen claims pole position for the Emilia Romagna GP; Piastri 2nd; Norris 3rd
• Click HERE for top-10 in qualifying
• Sergio Perez knocked out in Q2, also out: Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Gasly
• Fernando Alonso knocked out in Q1, also out: Bottas, Sargeant, Zhou, Magnussen
• Oscar Piastri top in FP3; Norris 2nd; Sainz 3rd
• CRASH! Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez hit the wall in third practice
• Charles Leclerc quickest in second practice; Piastri 2nd; Tsunoda 3rd
• Max Verstappen fumes at Lewis Hamilton after obstruction in practice
• PREVIEW: The key steps for Lando Norris to become an F1 title contender

[18 May 2024 17:58 · Kieran Jackson]

Starting grid for Emilia Romagna Grand Prix:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Lando Norris

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Carlos Sainz

6. George Russell

7. Yuki Tsunoda

8. Lewis Hamilton

9. Daniel Ricciardo

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Sergio Perez

12. Esteban Ocon

13. Lance Stroll

14. Alex Albon

15. Pierre Gasly

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Kevin Magnussen

18. Zhou Guanyu

19. Fernando Alonso

20. Logan Sargeant

[18 May 2024 17:44 · Kieran Jackson]

Yuki Tsunoda after an impressive P7 in qualifying:

[18 May 2024 17:18 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 qualifying report: Max Verstappen sees off McLaren challenge at Imola to match Ayrton Senna’s pole record

Max Verstappen saw off McLaren’s challenge to match Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

At the Imola venue which claimed Senna’s life 30 years ago, Verstappen’s drew level with the great Brazilian.

Oscar Piastri took second for McLaren – just 0.074 seconds behind Verstappen – with Lando Norris, who broke his duck in Miami a fortnight ago, only 0.091 sec adrift.

However, Piastri could face a grid penalty for blocking Haas’s Kevin Magnussen in Q1.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari, with George Russell sixth – half-a-second behind – and two places ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

[18 May 2024 16:45 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen’s joyous reaction to pole position:

[18 May 2024 16:39 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris:

“P3 is not a bad job at all, within a tenth of P1, tiny margins! We’ve had a very good weekend so far, exciting - we’re close, can’t wait for tomorrow.

“We’re getting closer, to be ahead of Ferrari is a nice result for us. It’s going to be close and a good race tomorrow. It’s tough when the lap times are so tight, it will be a tough race.”

[18 May 2024 16:26 · Kieran Jackson]

Oscar Piastri:

“Scruffy last corner but really happy, I’ve been really comfortable with the car. Very close to the pole but it’s been a little while since I’ve been up there.

“We’ll see what we can do, we’ve been on the pace all weekend. You can’t count out Max and Red Bull as we’ve seen but confidence is high.”

[18 May 2024 16:18 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen:

“I’m incredibly happy to be on pole, didn’t expect that. We made some changes before qualifying.. I’m still pumping, adrenaline!

“Great start to the year.”

[18 May 2024 16:11 · Kieran Jackson]

TOP-10 FOR THE EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Lando Norris

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Carlos Sainz

6. George Russell

7. Yuki Tsunoda

8. Lewis Hamilton

9. Daniel Ricciardo

10. Nico Hulkenberg

[18 May 2024 16:04 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen on pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix!

Verstappen went even quicker - 1:14:746!

“Let’s go! A really good pole position! We’ve turned it around, that’s fantastic - really happy!”

Oscar Piastri is the closest man to him, a tenth behind, with Lando Norris third.

Disappointment for Ferrari, fourth and fifth.

Top-10: Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2024 15:57 · Kieran Jackson]

All the cars come out now!

Here we go then - they all come out for their second runs, all on new softs!

Can Max be beaten?!

Two minutes to go.