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Formula One - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: Start time, leaderboard and lap-by-lap updates as Max Verstappen looks to continue pole position streak

4 months ago 23

By Kieran Lynch

Published: 14:00 BST, 18 May 2024 | Updated: 14:56 BST, 18 May 2024

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Verstappen out to match record set by Senna

If Max Verstappen takes his eighth strraight pole, it will match the record set by Ayrton Senna between 1988 and 1989.

Going off practice though it might not be quite so easy for the Dutchman... though we have said that before!

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the third practice session at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Imola, Italy, on May 18, 2024, ahead of the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Ten minutes until qualifying

Not long to go though Aston Martin are still in a race against time to get Alonso out in the first session of qualifying.

They look quite calm, might not be ready for the start of the session but could be enough to get out before the end.

Meanwhile there's a check on the floor and something at the back for Oscar Piastri, hopefully nothing too serious for the Australian!

Toto Wolff: McLaren quicker than the rest

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri might be the team to quick.

He told Sky Sports;

McLaren on a single lap and on the long run are with a good chunk fastest and then it’s all of us bunched up.
Then it will still be the Ferraris and probably the Red Bulls and us, but closer together."

Ferrari chiefs Vasseur expects strong Verstappen in qualifying

McLaren are back, we are closer to Red Bull. It's all about details.
This morning's session was strange with the red flags but McLaren have always been there since the beginning of the weekend.
It was good fight with them in Australia and Miami. It's good for F1 with three teams fighting and Mercedes are not far away as well.
Max will be back for Qualy but we are closer than at the beginning of the season.'

Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 18, 2024 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur in the pits during practice REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Three decades since tragedy of 1994 San Marino GP

It has been 30 years since the weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, where Formula One was rocked by the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna.

Ratzenberger, in his debut season, died following a crash during the Saturday qualifying session, while the legendary Senna died a day later while leading the race.

In the build-up to this weekend's race, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel led a track-run of the Imola circuit in tribute to the pair.

A fantastic and moving touch from the current crop of drivers to remember the pair who died in the darkest weekend of the sport's history.

Fans have also been paying tribute to Senna at the statue which sits not far from the corner where he crashed in 1994.

 Sebastian Vettel in front of Ayrton Senna Statue for 30th Anniversary during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 16, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/2024 Stefano Guidi)

Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 16, 2024  Red Bull's Sergio Perez, Mercedes' George Russell, Williams' Alexander Albon, Sauber's Guanyu Zhou and Red Bull's Max Verstappen display Brazil and Austria flags as part of tributes to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger following their deaths over 30 years ago REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna (1960 - 1994) reaches into his jumpsuit to scratch while watching a qualification session for the San Marino Formula 1 Grand Prix on the Imola Circuit, Imola, Italy, 30th April 1994. Senna's competitor Roland Ratzenberger died during a qualification round on April 30th and Senna himself died on May 1st after an accident during the race. (Photo by Dario Mitidieri/Getty Images)

Roland Ratzenberger, Simtek-Ford S941, Grand Prix of San Marino, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, 01 May 1994. Roland Razenberger during practice  for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, where he was killed during qualifying. (Photo by Paul-Henri Cahier/Getty Images)

 The F1 Community pose for a photo with their Ayrton Senna tribute tshirts and Roland Ratzenberger tribute wristbands during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 16, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

 Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes rides a scooter on track as part of a tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 16, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Ricciardo investigated over near collision

Daniel Ricciardo was summoned by the stewards over an incident that very nearly saw him collide with Kevin Magnussen during FP3.

They both went to explain their version of events a good hour ago, and a decision has come in.

No penalty for Ricciardo but it's a €5,000 fine for RB for failing to make Ricciardo aware that Kevin Magnussen was coming up behind him at high speed.

Despite the stewards acknowledging the situation was 'dangerous,' Ricciardo avoided a penalty due to several mitigating circumstances.

 Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB looks on in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 18, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Peter Fox - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Adrian Newey set to join Ferrari

Have Ferrari signed the man they have been missing?

Lewis Hamilton is an incredible signing for the Scuderia but they might have just found the winning solution with Red Bull's Adrian Newey reportedly set to join the Italian team alongside the seven-time world champion.

Sources in Italy have suggested that the contract has already been signed, after he announced his exit from Red Bull ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Click below to read more...

Old rivals clash on track

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's on-track rivalry has been pretty much non-existent since their epic fight for the 2021 title - given the Brit has not had a car to challenge the dominant Red Bull.

But on Friday the Dutchman was left seething after he felt that he was impeded by the seven-time champion on a flying lap.

Verstappen wasn't the only former rival of Hamilton who was annoyed with the Brit too!

Click below to read more...

What the standings looks like going into this weekend

Max Verstappen extended his lead at the top of the standings in Miami, despite losing out to Lando Norris.

He holds a 33 point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez, with 20 points covering the Mexican, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.

  1. Max Vertstappen - 136
  2. Sergio Perez - 103
  3. Charles Leclerc - 98
  4. Lando Norris - 83
  5. Carlos Sainz - 83
  6. Oscar Piastri - 41
  7. George Russell - 37
  8. Fernando Alonso - 33
  9. Lewis Hamilton - 27
  10. Yuki Tsunoda - 14

 Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 18, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Will Perez and Alonso's cars be fixed in time for qualifying?

The mechanics in the Red Bull and Aston Martin garages will have known they had a job on their hands to get the cars of Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso fixed in time for qualifying.

Sky Sports' pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz believes both men will be able to take part in this afternoon's qualifying, but if they do, their respective trips to the barriers of the Imola circuit is not the preparation they need going into qualifying.

Red Bull Racing's Mexican driver Sergio Perez looks at his car after crashing into the wall during the third practice session at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Imola, Italy, on May 18, 2024, ahead of the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

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Recap of this morning's practice session

After Charles Leclerc topped the two sessions on Friday for Ferrari, it was McLaren's Oscar Piastri who led the way during a chaotic FP3.

The Australian was the only driver to set a representative lap time after Sergio Perez in his Red Bull crashed at the Variante chicane with five minutes remaining.

Fernando Alonso also crashed out of the session in his Aston Martin in the first of two red flags to be brought out.

Max Verstappen was not happy on Friday, with his pace, or Lewis Hamilton who he felt had impeded him, and though Red Bull made significant set-up changes overnight, they didn't get the best of their car this morning.

Rounding off the top-five behind Piastri were his team-mate Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Leclerc and George Russell.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri drives during the third practice session at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Imola, Italy, on May 18, 2024, ahead of the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Good afternoon!

And welcome to Mail Sport's live blog for qualifying for tomorrow's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the historic Imola track.

We are off the back of the first race win for McLaren's Lando Norris in Miami, only the second driver not named Max Verstappen to win a race this season.

Red Bull have had a tough start to the weekend with both McLaren and Ferrari looking quick across the first three practice sessions.

Will there be another twist to the tale this weekend? We will get a good idea in this afternoon's qualifying session which gets underway at 3pm.

We will be with you for all the build-up and action from qualifying.

 Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing arrives at the track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 18, 2024 in Imola, Italy.(Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

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