Hamilton snatches pole position by a hair at Imola!

It is in major events that we recognize the immense champions. And once again Lewis Hamilton delivered the blow at the right time. The seven-time world champion snatches the 99th pole position of his illustrious career at Imola this Saturday during the Emilia-Romagna GP. Hamilton thus adds a 30th circuit to his qualifying record. 

On the front line at his side, we will find a Red Bull but not the one we thought since Sergio Pérez came to beat his teammate Max Verstappen. The Mexican fails 35 thousandths of the reference established by the cutting-edge W12, while the Dutchman is only 0 behind Hamilton. 

On this furiously old-school and enjoyable route, the fight was beautiful and intense until the end. For a moment we believed that Lando Norris was going to invite himself to the front row but the pilot's last flying lap McLaren was deleted for non-compliance with the boundaries of the route. Norris was finally pushed back to 7th position, one place behind his comrade Daniel Ricciardo whom he had nevertheless dominated head and shoulders until then. 

Behind the leading trio, we find, as in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri), solid 4th and 5th. Big disappointment on the other hand for Valtteri Bottas, modest 8th at the wheel of 2nd Mercedes. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Lance stroll (Aston Martin) complete the Top 10. 

Surprise in Q2 with the elimination of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). However, the Spaniard was comfortably in the Top 10 in free practice. Great overall performance from Williams, who both advance to Q2, a first since Hungary last year. George Russell is 2th, two places ahead of his teammate Nicholas latifi. 

Others eliminated from the middle segment of qualifying are two multiple world champions. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) is only 13th, while Fernando Alonso (Alpine) is beaten in qualifying by his teammate for the first time since the 1 Malaysian Grand Prix (against Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren-Honda). The Iberian, winner at Imola in 2017, is only 2005th. 

Q1 was quickly interrupted following an exit from the track Yuki tsunoda. The Japanese was trapped at the exit of the Variante Alta chicane and hit the wall of tires from behind, seriously damaging his AlphaTauri AT02 in the process. More fear than harm for the Japanese rookie who will be left with a bruised ego as the only sore. 

Tsunoda was accompanied in the first cart of eliminated by the pilots Alfa Romeo, Kimi Räikkönen ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi, as well as the riders Haas, Mick Schumacher sticking half a second to Nikita mazepin. 

As is often the case, the Mercedes managed to enter Q3 with Medium rubber and will start on yellow tires on Sunday. On the Red Bull side, Verstappen will be on the same strategy at the start, while his Mexican teammate will be on Softs, Red Bull having opted for safety in Q2. This promises to be the lights out on Sunday at 15:00 p.m. with Pérez wearing tires theoretically more efficient than poleman Hamilton at his side.