Max Verstappen equalled Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna’s record as he claimed pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver had struggled in the build-up to qualifying but – as has become the norm – he turned up when it mattered most.
It was still a close affair, with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris less than a second behind Verstappen, though the former may drop down the grid for Sunday’s race.
The Aussie is under investigation for impeding the Haas of Kevin Magnussen in the first qualifying session.
Ferrari were looking quick on home soil, but Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz could only manage fourth and fifth.
George Russell will line-up sixth on the grid in Imola, while Mercedes teammate Sir Lewis Hamilton was eighth fastest.
‘A difficult weekend so far, even this morning. Incredibly happy to be on pole here. I didn’t expect that,’ Verstappen said.
‘We made some final changes before Qualifying and they seemed to make it feel better. I could push harder.
‘This track is unbelievable. To be on the limit here in Qualifying, close to the gravel, I touched the gravel in the last corner. The adrenaline is very, very high.’
This was the three-time champion’s eighth consecutive pole position, a run that stretches back to last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, and equals the record set by Senna back in 1989.
Poignantly, this weekend F1 has been commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Brazilian’s passing after he was killed in a fatal crash during the race at Imola in 1994.
‘It’s a great start to the year and very special. It’s 30 years since he passed away, so very pleased to get pole and in a way it’s a nice memory to him,’ Verstappen added.
‘He was an incredible F1 driver, especially in qualifying. A great day for him, a great day for the team. I’m very, very happy.’
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