Red Bull’s Max Verstappen equalled Ayrton Senna‘s document of eight pole positions in a row with the quickest lap in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Saturday.
The late Brazilian’s run was set in 1988/89 with McLaren and Verstappen, additionally a triple Formula One world champion, began his sequence in Abu Dhabi on the finish of final season and has but to be out-qualified in 2024.
Verstappen’s thirty ninth profession pole got here as Formula One marks 30 years since Senna, who had 65 poles, died in a crash on the Italian circuit on May 1, 1994.
“It’s a great start to the year and very special,” stated the Dutch driver after additionally matching Alain Prost’s document 1993 seven successive poles at the beginning of a season.
“It’s 30 years since he (Senna) passed away, so very pleased to get pole and in a way it’s a nice memory to him. He was an incredible F1 driver, especially in qualifying,” added Verstappen.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri joined the championship chief provisionally on the entrance row, with stewards investigating the Australian for probably impeding Haas’s Kevin Magnussen within the first section of qualifying.
Lando Norris, a primary time winner on the earlier race in Miami, certified third for McLaren with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing the second row on the Italian staff’s house circuit.
“We are getting closer. To be ahead of Ferrari is also a nice result for us,” stated Norris. “It’s going to be shut, it may be a very good race tomorrow.
“Hopefully it’s an exciting one. Tough, especially when the lap times are so tight. A lot of it is down to lap one, strategy and the pit stops.”
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz certified fifth, with Mercedes’ George Russell sixth and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda a formidable seventh for the Faenza-based Red Bull-owned staff’s house race.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton will begin eighth for Mercedes and RB’s Daniel Ricciardo ninth with Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg finishing the highest 10.
Source: www.anews.com.tr