On a circuit marked in the past by tragedy, qualifying in Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix gave a stark, frightening reminder of how dangerous Formula One remains and what a knife-edged challenge this remarkable track presents. Pole position was claimed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri but only after the session had been stopped twice because of two huge accidents, one involving Yuki Tsunoda and the other Franco Colapinto.
High drama, from which both drivers emerged fortunately unhurt, was followed by an equally bruising blow which Lewis Hamilton described as leaving him “devastated”, in the form of disappointment for Ferrari fans at their home race, with a shock early exit for both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton in 11th and 12th.
