Hello and welcome to this Total Motorsport live blog for Qualifying at the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP from Imola as teams and drivers set the grid for the first Formula 1 race of the European season at one of the most storied circuits in the sport’s history.
McLaren dominated practice at Imola, with Oscar Piastri topping FP1 and FP2 ahead of Lando Norris, who then went quickest in FP3 ahead of his teammate. Ferrari have struggled at their home race with Lewis Hamilton complaining of brake issues, while Max Verstappen put a tricky Friday behind him to finish third quickest behind the papaya pair in Saturday’s final practice session.
Total-Motorsport.com’s F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP live updates for Qualifying will offer fans unparalleled insight into team strategies, reliability concerns, and pole position contenders. So stay tuned with us as Qualifying at the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP unfolds live from Imola in Italy.
F1 Emilia Romagna GP 2025 Qualifying LIVE: Latest Updates
Piastri snags pole in Imola
Oscar Piastri snags his third pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season by beating Max Verstappen by under half a tenth, and he hands the credit to the team for the car they’ve given him and their operational execution.
However, he isn’t completely satisfied as he finds himself irritated with the amount of traffic he had to deal with on his final lap.
“It was a very tough session with all the delays, the red flags,” Piastri said to F1 TV. “And then also the tyres, they’ve been very tricky today. I think after yesterday, everyone thought the C6 was not too bad, and then today it was a real mystery.
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“The team did a great job, got the car into a nice a window. We’ve been trying a few different things this weekend and we got it into a nice place for qualifying.
“The lap was good. I had about four cars in the last corner, which didn’t help, but it was enough. So, very happy with the job I’ve done and excited for tomorrow now.”
Verstappen weighs in on chances of Imola GP win
Max Verstappen has a chance to win the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP if he can beat Oscar Piastri’s McLaren off the line tomorrow, so does he think he can triumph over 63 laps again?
He is a happy chappy after a good effort in qualifying, although he isn’t quite happy with the Pirelli tyres.
“Everything was going really well,” Verstappen told F1 TV in Italy. “Just this softest compound is very difficult to keep them alive around the lap.
“Sector one was good and then the tyres again fell away from me from there onwards by tiny margins.”
He added: “But the race is tomorrow, that is where you score the points, so that is where we have to focus on. But I do think today was a very good day for us.
“Last race was not really a fight. I hope we pick up a bit of pace, have a bit more of a stable car, and hopefully we can look after our tyres a bit better.”
Russell reacts to P3 effort
George Russell is ahead of a McLaren once again for Mercedes, with his medium tyre gambling slinging him ahead of Lando Norris and into the top three and narrowly behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Oscar Piastri.
But he reveals a slow start to the lap might have actually cost him a shot at pole position, pointing out he and the Silver Arrows were lucky to make it to the flag in time to start.
“We were going for it,” Russell told F1 TV. “We thought maybe the medium tyre would be a fast one, and it turned out to be a good choice. Of course, a small compromise for tomorrow, but it was worth it to be back in the top three.
“It was very challenging because opening the lap we almost missed the flag, so I was in first gear to start the lap and lost a tenth down the straight because I was so close to Sainz.
“Nevertheless, really happy with P3. I think we could not really have achieved much more today, but we need to focus on tomorrow and try to get back on the podium.”
OSCAR PIASTRI TAKES POLE FOR THE F1 2025 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
Oscar Piastri just finds the time to beat Max Verstappen by 0.034 at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari, navigating some late traffic in the final few corners to snatch pole for the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP ahead of the defending world champion.
Crucially for the championship leader, Lando Norris finds himself down in fourth after being beaten by Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and George Russell’s Mercedes. It’s another occasion that sees qualifying get away from the 25-year-old Brit for McLaren.
Hats off to Fernando Alonso too, who gets his Aston Martin up to fifth in a sensational result for the team. He will surely end the points drought on Sunday. He’s ahead of Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly in the Top 10.
Final runs begin with split tyre strategies
Aston Martin turned eyes at the end of Q2 with a very impressive time on the medium tyres and one man who has cottoned onto that idea is Mercedes’ George Russell, who opts for the yellow-walled compound.
Max Verstappen and the McLarens are on softs, however.
Who takes pole position?
First runs on the board: Verstappen snatches provisional pole
Max Verstappen manages to edge out Oscar Piastri’s McLaren by 0.049 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari after the first runs to take provisional pole, but he will likely need a bit of extra time if he wants to seal the deal in Imola.
Then comes Lando Norris, George Russell, Isack Hadjar, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and finally Pierre Gasly rounding out the top 10.
They will get one last run.
Battle for pole begins: Who went out in Q2?
Both Ferraris crashed out and they were joined by another surprise in the form of Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes.
That opens the door for a big opportunity as Q3 begins.
But missing out alongside those three are Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto.
What a lap from Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz, by the way, produced a sensational lap to put his Williams on the top of the timing boards with a 1:15.198 to beat Oscar Piastri’s McLaren by 0.043.
He will be hoping to sprinkle a bit of that magic in Q3 for his first “smooth operation” since departing Ferrari, who were dumped out in 11th and 12th.
Can Williams fight for pole?
DOUBLE FERRARI EXIT IN Q2
Lewis Hamilton sets a yellow Sector 2 and 3 and finds himself seven tenths down as the seven-time world champion is knocked out of qualifying by Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
And it gets so much worse for Ferrari too. Charles Leclerc is then swiftly knocked out by Fernando Alonso in the other Aston Martin! That is a disaster for Fred Vasseur’s team!
“My God, my god, my god…,” Leclerc be moans over the radio.
It’s going to be a very long Sunday for the pair of them. Both Astons ran the medium tyres too, is that finally performing better than the softs?
Five minutes to go: Final runs due up
The cars will be out any moment and with just 1.4 seconds splitting Oscar Piastri at the top to Gabriel Bortoleto at the bottom, there’s a lot of risk to take if someone fancies getting through to Q3.
The bottom five: Colapinto (15th; Crashed in Q1), Bortoleto (Sauber), Albon (Williams), Gasly (Alpine), and Stroll (Aston Martin).
Nine minutes to go: First runs on the board
Oscar Piastri heads the field, leading Lando Norris by 0.020 as the McLarens put down a marker at the start of Q2. Then comes Max Verstappen, who is 0.159 off the top two in the Red Bull.
Ferrari have picked up the pace a little bit and now seem competitive with George Russell in the Mercedes through Charles Leclerc, the gap just 0.053.
Needing to improve? Bortoleto (Sauber), Albon (Williams), Gasly (Alpine), Stroll (Aston Martin).
Franco Colapinto is going to finish 15th after crashing out in Q1.
Remember: No Colapinto in Q2
Franco Colapinto is 15th on the timing board and that is where he will remain, at best, after crashing out in Q1.
That means there’s just four elimination spots in the battle for Q3 – one of them will probably be occupied by Gabriel Bortoleto, the Sauber lacks the pace for the Top 10.
DECISION MADE: Oliver Bearman OUT of qualifying
Oliver Bearman will not have his lap reinstated by the FIA and he is officially out of qualifying.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto heads out onto the track as Q2 begins.
Eliminated in Q1: Tsunoda (20th), Bearman (Haas), Ocon (Haas), Hulkenberg (Sauber) and Lawson (Racing Bulls).
Sauber sent Bortoleto into the fast lane
Gabriel Bortoleto has been sent to the end of the fast lane by Sauber, which feels more like a statement or lobbying to the FIA stewards.
They’re still investigating whether he made it through to Q2 or if Oliver Bearman got his lap on the board in time.
Bearman could still make Q2
Oliver Bearman had his lap deleted at the end of Q1 but hold that thought for a moment.
The FIA are investigating whether he had crossed the line or not.
If he is reinstated, Gabriel Bortoleto for Sauber will be eliminated.
Bearman potentially in trouble?
Oliver Bearman pushes to the line but the red flag is out.
His time is naturally deleted, but could he come under fire from the FIA for continuing his fast-lap?
It was marginal, and so far the FIA have taken no notice.
Colapinto crash ends session early: Who is out?
Colapinto’s crash means everyone has to back off bar a handful of drivers and that ends the Q1 running slightly earlier than anticipated.
Of course, Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull already headed for an early shower after a crash a while prior and he will start from either 20th or the pit lane.
Out at the expense of that Colapinto moment for Alpine is: Tsunoda (20th), Bearman (Haas), Ocon (Haas), Hulkenberg (Sauber) and Lawson (Racing Bulls).
Colapinto should earn a one-place grid drop for a pit-lane infringement and Hulkenberg is also under investigation for an unsafe release in the pits, forcing Kimi Antonelli to brake.
RED FLAG: COLAPINTO CRASHES OUT
Franco Colapinto has dropped it at the exit of the Tamburello chicane (Turn 2 and 3) and he’s hit the wall with a big impact that’s destroyed his front-wing and front suspensions.
Fortunately for Alpine, the rest of the car seems in tact and the young Argentinian, making his return to the sport this weekend is all okay. Flavious Briatore won’t be impressed.
Four minutes to go: Final runs due up: Who is in danger?
It’s do or don’t in Q1 now with the slowest four drivers being eliminated after that crash for Yuki Tsunoda, so who is at risk of an early exit?
So far, Esteban Ocon (Haas), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) all need to find some extra lap time.
With a second splitting second from 16th, it’s a ridiculously tight field. Anyone could go.
Seven minutes to go: Verstappen goes to the top
Max Verstappen is comfortably clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri thanks to a 1:15.175. The defending champion has a buffer worth 0.325.
Replays show Lando Norris with a slide on the exit of Tosa as he dips into the grass, he’s down in sixth and could do with a bit more time to make sure he’s safe.
Piastri also made a mistake at the same corner, but managed to get away with it so it’s close with Verstappen.
10 minutes to go: Laps due up
We’re now deep into the out-laps and the first push laps are beginning to appear on the boards.
This is going to be a crazy end to Q1, stay tuned to see how it all unfolds.
GREEN FLAG: Back to running in Imola
There’s 12 minutes on the clock after that Yuki Tsunoda crash at Turn 5 and 6.
All cars rush into the queue and the track goes live.
It’s Franco Colapinto first out, but he’s going to be in trouble with the FIA for joining the queue too early.
Cars back on track soon
We’re still under red flag conditions with 12:13 left on the clock, enough time for two or three laps depending on how you navigate the traffic. There’s an estimated restart time of 16:20 local time in Italy.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto has joined the pit-lane queue, which could be a problem based on the Bahrain GP that earned both Mercedes cars a grid drop penalty for doing the same thing.
Roll hoop protects Tsunoda
Red Bull are already thinking about building a new chassis for Yuki Tsunoda ahead of Sunday’s 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after that astonishing crash at the Variante Villeneuve (Turn 5 and 6).
The roll hoop and the catch fencing stopped that from becoming so much worse for the driver and marshals/crowd behind, a testament to how safe this sport has become since Jackie Stewart’s efforts and the tragic loss of Ayrton Senna, 31 years ago at this circuit.
RED FLAG: Yuki Tsunoda OUT
That’s a very terrifying shunt for Yuki Tsunoda, who loses his car over the sausage kerbs, heads into the gravel and spins around into the wall before crashing back to the ground!
Fortunately the safety measures do their jobs and the 24-year-old is out of the car and completely healthy, no doubt angry at himself for the accident.
That’s a huge repair job ahead of Sunday, no doubt a pit lane start.
13 minutes to go: Worrying pace for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton has his first lap on the board and it’s only good enough to go third behind a Williams and Aston Martin, almost a tenth off the pace.
Very concerning for Ferrari is the fact that Charles Leclerc is 0.360 off too.
GREEN FLAG: Q1 begins in Monza
It’s a sunny day in Imola and the cars are quickly out on track on the soft tyres as they look to get their banker laps on the board in qualifying.
Teams have 18 minutes to get their best time on the clock.
The slowest five will be eliminated.
Tight field in Imola
Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen look as though they’re a cut above the rest of the field in Imola based on Free Practice 3.
However, from Kimi Antonelli (fourth) downwards, around just one second splits the field.
The margins are so fine any error could be crucial when it comes to escaping Q1 and Q2.
Williams on the charge?
Williams have showed very impressive pace throughout this weekend and seem to be in a mix with the leading teams.
What an excellent job every member of James Vowles’ team is doing.
Could Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz deliver a lap that surprises the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes?
Fine margins for error in Imola
Check out what happens if you make a slight mistake at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, affectionately dubbed Imola.
Even the likes of Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton were caught out with track limits.
That could be costly in qualifying.
ICYMI: Missed all the FP3 the action?
Find out who’s looking sharp and who’s struggling with their cars ahead of qualifying.
Remember, you can find live updates here with Total-Motorsport.com.
Can Ferrari find a response?
The expectant Tifosi will be looking for a performance at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton aim to get on top of their tricky SF-25 car.
Can Maranello delight the fans by getting Ferrari into the mix for pole position? It’s a long shot…
Welcome to the blog for qualifying!
Free Practice 3 casts a three-way battle for pole position at the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP, with Lando Norris appearing to have a slender edge over Oscar Piastri as the McLaren pair continue their duel; beating him by just a tenth.
Close behind, however? Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who is only 0.186 off the pace, but ran the medium tyres for his best lap compared to the two McLaren cars.
Can the defending champion pull off another surprise lap?
Where to Watch 2025 Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying?
For viewers in the United States, 2025 Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying will be shown on ESPN2, with streaming coverage via ESPN+.
In the UK, all sessions, including 2025 Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying are available on Sky Sports F1. And fans in Australia can catch all the action on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, and Foxtel.
What time is Qualifying at the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
Qualifying for the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP begins at 4:00pm local time on Saturday at Imola. That means a similar start for F1 fans in the UK, where Qualifying begins at 3:00pm on Saturday afternoon.
Over in the USA, the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP qualifying session from Imola begins at 10:00am ET on Saturday morning, which means an early morning 7:00am PT start for those on the West Coast.
