May 18th 2024.
Max Verstappen has achieved a remarkable feat at Imola - he has secured pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, equaling the record set by the legendary Ayrton Senna. Despite facing challenges in the lead up to qualifying, the Red Bull driver once again proved his ability to perform when it matters most.
The competition was fierce, with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris closely following Verstappen, less than a second behind. However, Piastri may face a drop in position due to an investigation for impeding another driver in the first qualifying session. Ferrari, racing on home soil, showed promising speed but could only manage fourth and fifth place with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz respectively.
Surprisingly, it was George Russell who claimed sixth place on the grid in Imola, while Verstappen's Mercedes teammate, Sir Lewis Hamilton, secured eighth place. Verstappen himself expressed his surprise and happiness at clinching pole position, stating, "It's been a difficult weekend so far, even this morning. I'm incredibly happy to be on pole here. I didn't expect that."
But this is not the first time Verstappen has achieved a record in Formula 1. He has now equaled Senna's record of eight consecutive pole positions, a streak that began at the season finale in Abu Dhabi last year. And as if that wasn't impressive enough, he also managed to match Senna's record set in 1989.
The adrenaline was running high for Verstappen during qualifying, as he pushed his car to the limit, even touching the gravel in the last corner. He credited some final tweaks made to his car before qualifying for helping him perform at his best. "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," he shared.
This weekend, the F1 community is also remembering Senna on the 30th anniversary of his passing. The Brazilian driver tragically lost his life in a crash at Imola in 1994 while leading the race. Verstappen acknowledged this poignant coincidence, saying, "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 also paid tribute to Senna's incredible skills as a driver, especially in qualifying. "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," he said, clearly humbled by the achievement.
As the race approaches, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims to maintain his pole position and possibly claim victory. And with the added motivation of honoring Senna's legacy, he will surely give it his all on the track.
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