Norris turns tables on Piastri to set up crucial Imola pole bid
skysports - 5/17/2025 1:46:10 PM - GMT (+2 )

Lando Norris set himself up for a bid at claiming his first pole position since 2025's season-opening round on Saturday at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix by beating Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen to the fastest time in final practice.

​​​​​​After being shaded by his championship-leading team-mate Piastri in both of Friday's practices sessions at Imola, Norris turned the tables in the final session before the all-important qualifying hour at 3pm.

Norris' quickest time on the soft tyres of 1:14.897 was exactly one tenth of a second faster than Piastri's, although the latter's best effort came on his second lap on Pirelli's new softest compound when performance from the tyre would not have been quite as strong.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was 0.181s back in third place although he set his best time on the slower medium compound after failing to improve on the red-marked softs.

Indeed, drivers generally struggled to find superior pace on Pirelli's new C6 tyre - the new quickest compound in F1's range which is debuting at Imola this weekend.

Italy's own Kimi Antonelli, though, did make a late improvement on the softs to vault into fourth for Mercedes, although that was still half a second behind Norris' time with McLaren clearing remaining the team to beat after a clean sweep of one-two finishes through practice.

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Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson spun his car in dramatic fashion during final practice at Imola

Charles Leclerc was again the lead Ferrari driver in fifth with Lewis Hamilton, who struggled with braking on Friday, three tenths further back in 10th.

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1's Emilia Romagna GP Schedule

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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Saturday May 17
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: EMILIA ROMAGNA GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday May 18
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP build-up
2pm: The EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Emilia Romagna GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event

F1's European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime



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