Formula 1

The day has already started well for the Tifosi with a Ferrari one-two led by Leclerc in first practice. Max Verstappen and Red Bull are out to end ...

It was very slippery. It is worth noting we have now matched the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix and 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix for most red flags in an F1 qualifying session. “It was tricky out there. Thanks for joining us and we will be back tomorrow for a live blog of the second practice session and the sprint race which will decide Sunday’s grid. A record-breaking five red flags were flown on Friday with the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who are performing surprisingly well in the standings, out in Q2. A very damp Imola welcomed Formula One today for a bonkers qualifying session ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The fight among Formula 1's midfield to be best-of-the-rest has ramped up at Imola with a raft of updates having been delivered for the Emilia Romagna Grand ...

Williams’ focus of Imola modifications have been aimed at helping improve its top speed – both with and without the DRS effect. AlphaTauri has also changed the lower surface of its front wheel scoop – making it shorter but wider. Working in tandem with the floor is a changed rear beam wing, that features a revised outboard end shape.

Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen will start Saturday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint event on pole position after an incident-packed qualifying at Imola ...

Verstappen then grabbed the top spot with 1m27.999s, 0.779s faster than Leclerc, despite being forced to lift off for Valtteri Bottas stopping in the final sector ahead of him, which caused another red flag. Rain fell during the break, meaning there would be no further improvements. Time The session began on a slightly damp but quickly drying track. Time The result of Saturday’s sprint race sets the grid for Sunday’s main event.

Max Verstappen took pole position for Red Bull in a nailbiting qualifying session ahead of the inaugural F1 Sprint of 2022 at Imola.

It was very slippery to get the tyre temps to work. Vettel sealed Aston Martin's first Q3 appearance of 2022 in P8 (and emerged for a late intermediate run alongside Leclerc), Ricciardo and Bottas rounding out the top 10. Verstappen then improved to a 1m 27.999s, just after Bottas crashed to bring out a red flag going into Turn 16. “It was tricky out there with the rain… The rain then returned to ensure a damp finish to Friday evening. It was a hectic, long qualifying but of course at the end happy to be here. Dry line now clear, Lance Stroll set the first benchmark for Aston Martin – before the session was red flagged with 12 minutes remaining, Albon’s right-rear brake up in flames and spreading red-hot debris in its wake. Verstappen led Leclerc out but, given how difficult their out-laps seemed, it was clear that neither driver would improve. Nearly eight-tenths off, Leclerc had one last chance to pry provisional pole away from the reigning champion but was left second and 0.799s off after the red flag. The Spaniard went second, 0.197s off then-leader Verstappen, but spun and crashed going into the final left-hander. The umbrellas soon unfurled, and those drivers’ fates were essentially sealed. Tsunoda’s team mate Gasly could only take P17, making it an early elimination for both of AlphaTauri's drivers at their home circuit.

Championship leader Charles Leclerc took the second spot on the grid for the sprint race, ahead of Lando Norris in third and Kevin Magnussen in fourth.

Lewis Hamilton said his Mercedes was driving "like a rattlesnake" but the Briton tamed his car on Saturday to qualify fifth for the Australian Grand Prix in a much-improved performance. His was not the last red flag, however, as in the finale to the day's action, Norris slipped off into a wall to trigger the final red flag of the day. However, both seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell failed to make the cut to the top-ten shootout as their Mercedes team failed to progress for the first time in a decade. Lando Norris was third for McLaren ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Fernando Alonso of Alpine and Daniel Ricciardo, who was sixth in the second McLaren. Championship leader Charles Leclerc took the second spot on the grid for the sprint race, ahead of Lando Norris in third and Kevin Magnussen in fourth. The 24-year-old Dutchman drove his Red Bull with care and aplomb to avoid problems on a day of frequent crashes and five red flags that left Ferrari's championship leader frustrated.

Albon's rear wheel caught fire, throwing debris from his Williams across the track and causing Q1 to grind to a halt after less than three minutes.

He did not manage to get out of the session, joining his team-mate Albon in the bottom five along with Esteban Ocon, who did not emerge from the pits in time to set a hot lap. Nicholas Latifi was left as Williams' only chance of having a driver involved in Q2, but did not get off to an auspicious start as he span his car on an out lap. A small blaze could be clearly seen on the back right wheel of his Williams as his brakes seemed to overheat.