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Formula 1
Emilia Romagna GP
F1 Imola GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's action from the seventh round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
F1 returns to Imola having cancelled last year's event following extensive flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region.
FP3 starts at 11:30am BST (12:30pm local time) followed by qualifying at 3:00pm BST (4:00pm local time).
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Russell goes ahead of Tsunoda and Hamilton behind the RB but with both on the used softs, that could change. Ricciardo is the only driver not to set a time so far.
The cars are back into the pits, a quick change of tyres and a wait for the best track conditions and then we will find out who is on pole.
Still no move from any of the 10 cars with four minutes left.
As I say that, there's a flurry of activity out of the garages and there is a queue of crawling cars at the end of the pits.
Hulkenberg is again the first to cross the line but Sainz is the first of the top five to keep an eye on.
Sainz is already three-tenths down on Verstappen and Leclerc is down on his first run.
This could be Ferrari's pole aspirations gone!
This could be Ferrari's pole aspirations gone!
Another mediocre run in the middle sector leaves Sainz way off - he stays fifth.
Leclerc went purple in the middle sector but can't improve in the final sector and stays third. It's between Verstappen and Norris.
Stopwatch
Verstappen is FLYING. Two purple sectors and he goes faster.
Norris also improves but Verstappen's 1m14.746 was good enough to hold on.
Norris also improves but Verstappen's 1m14.746 was good enough to hold on.
Checkered flag
That should be it, but Piastri is looking dangerous. Purple in the middle of the lap and he goes close!
He splits Verstappen and Norris, but will likely face a trip to the stewards for his block on Magnussen.
He splits Verstappen and Norris, but will likely face a trip to the stewards for his block on Magnussen.
That was a hard-earned pole from Verstappen and Red Bull after a difficult run through practice.
Both McLarens were within a tenth of him, however, but Ferrari really underperformed compared to its hopes.
Both McLarens were within a tenth of him, however, but Ferrari really underperformed compared to its hopes.
There was little improvement on those final runs: Russell stayed sixth ahead of Tsunoda and Hamilton.
Ricciardo did jump Hulkenberg for ninth on the grid.
Ricciardo did jump Hulkenberg for ninth on the grid.
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Verstappen after equalling Senna's record of eight poles in a row: "It is a great start to the year but very special, it is 30 years since he passed away at this track. It is a nice memory to him."
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Piastri: "A bit of a scruffy last corner, it is so difficult to do a perfect lap. So close to pole but very happy."
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Norris: "P3 is not a bad job at all. Both within a tenth for P1 so tiny margins. We have had a good day and a good weekend. Excitingly close."
Mercedes had looked much better through practice yet fell away in qualifying. Will the race pace be better?
Another shoutout to Tsunoda, who was the star of qualifying.
The RB driver may even be slightly frustrated to not have beaten Russell to sixth on the grid, such was his pace.
The RB driver may even be slightly frustrated to not have beaten Russell to sixth on the grid, such was his pace.
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And with that, our coverage comes to an end. Thank you for joining us, we will be back for the race tomorrow where we will see if Verstappen can be challenged!
By: Autosport Staff
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