Are we headed to a different dominant Saturday from McLaren, or will their rivals spring a shock in Method 1 qualifying on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?
The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has led the way in which over all three observe classes. Piastri topped the timing sheets in each FP1 and FP2 — with Norris proper behind him in P2 — whereas it was Norris who was quickest earlier as we speak in FP3, with Piastri behind him in second.
A significant story to observe in as we speak’s qualifying session is the delicate C6 compound, which is getting used for the primary time this season at Imola. Whereas drivers switched from the medium compound to the softs late in FP3, few enhancements have been present in lap occasions. The doable purpose? The delicate tires have been overheating by the tip of the lap, reducing grip ranges by way of the ultimate few corners of the circuit.
That may change how groups method their warmup laps throughout qualifying, which might enhance the visitors we see throughout Q1.
It could possibly be a chaotic qualifying session, and we could have it lined reside for you right here at SB Nation, from the beginning of Q1 by way of the session.
Observe: Updates are all in Jap time.
Q1 qualifying notes
10:34: Colapinto technically advances to Q2 in P15, however his qualifying session is over.
Bearman survives, as he posted a lap that was adequate to maneuver into Q2 simply earlier than Colapinto hit the wall at Flip 4.
10:33: One other large crash, as Franco Colapinto has discovered the barrier at Flip 4. As issues stand the 5 drivers eradicated are Bortoleto, Lawson, Hülkenberg, Ocon, and Tsunoda.
Colapinto studies that he’s okay as he climbs out of his A525.
10:32: Bortoleto’s last push lap sees him soar into P15, so he has an opportunity to advance into Q2.
His teammate Hülkenberg, nonetheless, discovered the gravel late in his lap and can be out in Q1.
10:30: With two minutes left in Q1 your backside 5 drivers who’re prone to elimination are: Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, and Tsunoda, whose crash has introduced an finish to his day.
10:29: Solely three minutes stay in Q1, and the automobiles are popping out for his or her last push laps. Notably Lance Stroll left the storage with a set of C5 medium tires bolten onto his AMR25. Groups have been combating the C6 delicate compound as famous above.
10:28: Instances are coming in as Q1 continues, and shock shock, Max Verstappen is presently in P1.
Replays on F1TV present a number of drivers, together with Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Fernando Alonso coping with some slides off the racing line and into the gravel.
10:19: The session will resume at 4:20 native time/10:20 Jap. With one minute earlier than the sunshine turns inexperienced, automobiles start to queue up in pit lane.
10:16: The purple flag continues to be out at Imola after Tsunoda’s shunt.
You possibly can see a replay of the incident right here:
10:08: Tsunoda is out of the automotive and walks away from the RB21, and is ready to climb into the medical automotive.
His RB21 has suffered important injury, and he’s possible taking a look at a pit lane begin tomorrow.
10:06: RED FLAG. Yuki Tsunoda has gone off the road and into the wall exhausting, with the influence with the wall flipping his RB21.
10:05: Now we have some early lap occasions in Q1, and in the intervening time Alexander Albon is atop the timing sheets.
Excellent time to plug my chat with the Williams driver from earlier within the week.
10:00: Now we have a inexperienced gentle at Imola, and Q1 is underway. 18 minutes are on the clock, and visitors goes to be an enormous issue as famous above.
Pre-qualifying notes
9:55: McLaren CEO Zak Brown predicts that the highest three in qualifying can be Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen in some order. Take that for what it’s price.
9:47: Throughout the F1TV pre-qualifying present, Flavio Briatore talks with Lawrence Barretto in regards to the swap from Jack Doohan to Franco Colapinto. Briatore brushes apart the concept that Colapinto simply has 5 races within the automotive to show himself at Alpine, stating that how lengthy Colapinto lasts comes right down to “efficiency.”
