Verstappen Matches Senna with Stunning Emilia-Ro… read more
Max Verstappen delivered a remarkable turnaround to secure pole position for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, describing it as one of his finest recoveries in over five years. With this performance, he equaled Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions—a milestone achieved under emotional circumstances, as it comes on the 30th anniversary of Senna’s tragic death at Imola.
Verstappen and his Red Bull team faced a challenging weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, grappling with persistent grip and balance issues. The Dutchman admitted that until the end of the final practice session, a place within the top five would have been considered a strong result. The car’s setup remained elusive throughout the weekend, and Verstappen appeared off pace compared to his usual dominance.
Yet, when it mattered most in qualifying, Verstappen rose to the occasion. Under immense pressure, he produced a flawless lap to snatch pole position from the charging McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. While Piastri initially secured second on the grid, he was later handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, promoting Norris to the front row.
Verstappen’s pole streak began at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and now stands at eight, matching the legendary run Senna achieved between the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix and the 1989 US Grand Prix. Verstappen acknowledged the emotional weight of matching such a record on a weekend honoring Senna, calling it “very special.” He added, “It’s 30 years since he passed away, so to get pole here in Imola is a nice memory to him. He was an incredible driver, especially in qualifying.”
Despite the achievement, Verstappen remained realistic about the team’s recent difficulties. He reflected on how rare it has been in recent years to make such a significant leap in performance from practice to qualifying. “It’s been a while since we felt this far off,” he said. “Maybe five or six years since we’ve had a weekend where we turned it around like this.”
The performance also highlighted the continued resurgence of McLaren, who seem to be emerging as Red Bull’s closest competitors. Following Lando Norris’s surprise win at the Miami Grand Prix, both McLaren cars were quick again in Imola, putting serious pressure on Verstappen throughout qualifying.
With the grid now set and Verstappen on pole, the stage is prepared for an intense race at Imola, as the reigning champion seeks to convert this symbolic pole into another cru
cial victory.
