LEWIS HAMILTON is on pole as he looks to make it two wins out of two at Imola.
Joining him on the front row is Red Bull newcomer Sergio Perez, who caused a stir by finishing ahead of third placed team-mate Max Verstappen.
Follow ALL the action from Italy with our live blog below…
NUMERO UNO
SunSport’s Ben Hunt says: “Lewis Hamilton had the competition licked as he scooped pole 99.
“It seems silly to say given his impressive tally of P1 starts, but this really was a shock as he qualified ahead of the Red Bulls of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
“The astonishment in the voice of his race engineer, Pete Bonnington, as the result was confirmed was enough to tell you this was a surprise to the team, despite their seven-year domination.
“And while no points are on offer for Saturday qualifying, Hamilton was ice-cool while Max Verstappen again melted away after another error.”
MERC MY WORDS
It was some lap from Lewis Hamilton that secured pole position.
Take a look at it below.
QUALIFYING STANDINGS
Sergio Perez has qualified on the front row for the first time in his F1 career.
LEW BEAUTY
Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his delight at securing pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
He said: “The day has been great. I definitely didn’t expect us to be ahead of two Red Bulls. They have been so quick this weekend. There were times when they were six tenths ahead, we didn’t really know where we would be.
“But the car has been feeling better from the beginning this weekend so respect to the team for the hard work to really narrow down the window.
“I love the challenge. I think it’s great finally we’ve got the two Red Bulls there. It’s definitely going to make strategy harder and it’ll be a real challenge because they have got great race pace.
“Their pace was a little bit stronger in the long run yesterday but I’m just so happy.
“The first lap was really nice, really clean. There were some improvements on the second lap but it wasn’t quite as good as the first one, but I’m really grateful. I came around the last corner and heard that I got the pole and I was very grateful.”
HAMILTON TAKES POLE – HIS 99th OF HIS CAREER
Perez in P2, Verstappen in P3. That was fantastic stuff. Leclerc in P4.
Norris unlucky in P7.
LANDO NORRIS LOSES P2
The McLaren man gets his time deleted. Tough luck for the Brit.
TRACK LIMITS COULD BE AN ISSUE
Hamilton could be in trouble,
HERE WE GO – FINAL RUNS IN Q3
All 10 cars on track. Verstappen last to cross the line. This could be close.
HAMILTON TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE
Verstappen P2. Bottas in P3 after their first runs.
GREEN LIGHT – Q3 IS GO
Hamilton v Verstappen v Bottas for pole. Hamilton going for his 99th pole.
ELIMINATED FROM Q2
Alonso, Latifi, Vettel, Russell and Sainz. That is a shock to see Alonso and Vettel done by their teammates. Sainz too will not be happy.
GREEN LIGHT – Q2 IS GO
And Hamilton leads Verstappen while Bottas in in third. All three should get in to Q3.
It is all about who get’s knocked out. Williams Alpine and Aston Martin looking vulnerable.
THAT IS SOME RESULT FROM WILLIAMS
Remember, they have been the slowest cars on track for a few years. Not anymore.
ELIMINATED IN Q1
Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Schumacher, Mazepin and Tsunoda
LATIFI AND RUSSELL MAKE IT IN TO Q2
Great stuff from the Canadian who gets in to Q2 comfortably. He joins Williams teammate George Russell in Q2. A great result for Williams.
IN THE DROP ZONE FOR Q1
Russell, Mazepin, Latifi and Schumacher are in the bottom five with Tsunoda, who is obviously out.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE BOYS IN RED
GREEN LIGHT – WE ARE GO AGAIN
Busy track now with just nine minutes remaining of this session. Tsunoda is already out. Who will join him?
MORE IMAGES OF THAT CRASH – TSUNODA IS ALL OK
INDEED, THAT WILL NOT POLISH OUT
RED FLAG – BIG SMASH FOR TSUNODA
The AlphaTauri man, who has been impressive this season, makes a rookie error at Imola.
He has spun and destroyed his car. He is fine and out of the car, but that is big damage as he went in backwards into the barrier.
WELL, THAT’S A GOOD START
Mazepin has completed a lap without spinning. Still not as quick as Schumacher.
GREEN LIGHT – QUALIFYING IS GO
Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin are both out on track as the Haas boys try to get in some early laps.
BEAUTIFUL DAY IN IMOLA
No rain, plenty of sunshine. But as we know, this track is still proving tricky, even in ideal conditions.
ICYMI – THIS IS THE CLASH BETWEEN PEREZ AND OCON YESTERDAY
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
