Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: 15th Pole Bottas

Sunny. Dry. Air + 19С, track + 26С

It is difficult to overtake at Imola, a good starting position is very important, although in the last ten GP the pole winners have won the race at Enzo and Dino Ferrari’s circuit only three times. This year the unusual format of the weekend has complicated the task. The teams did not have time to arrive from Portugal on Wednesday, so Liberty Media moved forward an entire day, cutting the weekend down to two days.

Instead of the usual three practice sessions, the teams worked an hour-and-a-half session on Saturday morning, in which not everyone could immediately figure out the setup and tires. Hamilton led the protocol with a lap of 1: 14.726.

Pirelli brought to the stage the three well-known “mediums” from the charts: the roles of Hard, Medium and Soft were played by C2, C3 and C4, but due to the lack of training on Friday, there were only ten sets: two Hard, two Medium and six Soft.

During an hour and a half of morning training, the FIA ​​canceled the lap time 60 times for going off the track at Turns 9 and 15, but after consulting with teams and riders, the rules were clarified to avoid a lot of classification penalties.

In the first session everything went to Soft. On the narrow road, many were hampered by traffic. Elbon and Bottas had their best lap times canceled on the first try, they had to start over on the second.

At the end of the session, Magnussen flew off the track and was forced to interrupt the attempt, returning to the pits.

The best time was shown by Bottas, having driven a circle in 1: 14.221. Retired from more problems: Grosjean, Magnussen, Latifi, Giovinazzi and Raikkonen – Kimi canceled the best lap twice.

In the second session Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing drivers made their first attempt on Medium, hoping to use these tires at first, the rest used Soft.

Verstappen complained about the loss of power from the power plant and returned to the pits without completing the circle (there was a problem with the ignition system, which the team quickly removed) and Max left again. Elbon unfolded without consequence to the car.

On the second attempt, the Ferrari drivers showed the best time in Soft to compete for the top ten, while Verstappen took the Medium again in the sixth time. Bottas again showed the best time: 1: 14.585. Tomorrow the Max and Mercedes drivers will start in Medium. Pérez, Ocon, Russell, Vettel and Stroll withdrew from the fight. Daniil Kvyat reached the final for the first time this season.

In the last session they all used Soft. On the first attempt, Hamilton led the protocol, driving a lap in 1: 13.781, three hundredths ahead of Bottas. Elbon had her lap canceled for trespassing.

On the second attempt, Hamilton added – 1: 13.706, but Bottas drove even faster – 1: 13.609. Verstappen lost half a second to the leader, showing the third time.

Valtteri Bottas won the classification at Imola, achieving the fourth pole of the season and the 15th of his career. Lewis Hamilton starts second, for the ninth time this season, the entire front row of Mercedes drivers.

Verstappen and Gasly start from the second row, Riccardo and Albon start from the third row. Daniil Kvyat starts eighth, this is his best result of the season.

Qualification results