F1 Imola GP 2024 LIVE: Race results, times and updates as Max Verstappen leads from pole

Verstappen leads from pole for the Emilia Romagna GP with Lando Norris in second early on

Lando Norris returns to McLaren HQ after Miami Grand Prix triumph

Max Verstappen saw off McLaren’s challenge to match Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

At the Imola venue which claimed Senna’s life 30 years ago, Verstappen’s drew level with the great Brazilian.

Oscar Piastri took second for McLaren – just 0.074 seconds behind Verstappen – with Lando Norris, who broke his duck in Miami a fortnight ago, only 0.091 sec adrift. However, Piastri was dropped three places for Sunday’s grid after blocking Haas’s Kevin Magnussen in Q1.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari, with George Russell sixth – half-a-second behind – and two places ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Follow latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• Top-3: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc (Lap 53/63)
• START! Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris at the start
• The race at Imola started at 2pm (BST)
• Fernando Alonso started in the pit lane
• Oscar Piastri was handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Kevin Magnussen in qualifying
• PREVIEW: The key steps for Lando Norris to become an F1 title contender

[19 May 2024 15:16 · Kieran Jackson]

George Russell pits (Lap 54/63)

Russell pits - 2.2 seconds - for what is effectively a free pit stop!

He comes out still in seventh, dropping a place behind Hamilton ahead of Perez, and could well look to set the fastest lap now with fresh rubber!

However, he’s now 22 seconds behind Hamilton and has lost a place!

[19 May 2024 15:15 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris on radio (Lap 52/63)

“I’m pushing, yes yes yes!”

Gap to Verstappen now down to 4.2 seconds.

Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Russell, Hamilton, Perez, Stroll, Tsunoda

[19 May 2024 15:14 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen leads but isn’t happy (Lap 51/63)

Verstappen: “Yeah my tyres don’t work mate!”

Norris has suddenly found some mate - and has cut the gap from six seconds to 4.5 seconds...

Can he get any closer?!

[19 May 2024 15:10 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris holds off Charles Leclerc (Lap 48/63)

Leclerc got about within half-a-second - but no nearer!

Lando Norris doing enough, before Leclerc makes a mistake and cuts the chicane! The gap now back to two seconds between second and third.

Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Russell, Hamilton, Perez, Tsunoda, Stroll

16 laps to go at Imola...

[19 May 2024 15:02 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris under pressure from Charles Leclerc (Lap 43/63)

Big moment for the podium make-up here!

Leclerc is now within DRS of Norris, 0.8 secs the gap!

Can the McLaren - who has been short of pace today - hold off the Ferrari?!

[19 May 2024 14:59 · Kieran Jackson]

Sergio Perez moves up to P9 (Lap 41/63)

Perez quickly carving through the field, overtaking Ricciardo and Hulkenberg with ease.

Next in line? Yuki Tsunoda. A battle off track for the 2025 Red Bull seat could be on track in a few laps...

[19 May 2024 14:57 · Kieran Jackson]

Sergio Perez pits (Lap 39/63)

Red Bull listened to me!

They pit Perez and the Mexican drops to 11th on quicker, medium tyres, behind Daniel Ricciardo.

His progress will be interesting!

Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo

Nobody in the top-10 is within DRS of the cat in front...

[19 May 2024 14:54 · Kieran Jackson]

Lewis Hamilton passes Sergio Perez (Lap 37/63)

Hamilton goes around the outside of the Red Bull and takes seventh place, with Perez’s hard tyres definitely falling off now!

When will Red Bull pit the Mexican?!

[19 May 2024 14:51 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris radio exchange (Lap 35/63)

Norris: “Where am I so much slower than the guys behind?

Engineer: “Lando, they’re using their tyres massively more than us

Norris: “Yeah but I have no pace!”

The gap to Verstappen is 6.2 secs, with Leclerc behind him three seconds down the road.

4-10: Piastri, Sainz, Russell, Perez, Hamilton, Stroll, Magnussen

[19 May 2024 14:47 · Kieran Jackson]

Oscar Piastri sets the fastest lap (Lap 32/63)

Speedy from the Aussie on his set of hard tyres!

He’s in fourth, less than a second behind Charles Leclerc in third.

Out in front, Max Verstappen’s lead to Lando Norris is 6.5 seconds.

(Getty Images)