18/05/2024
NEWS STORY
Oscar Piastri: "I'm really happy with the performance today. We were so close to pole on track.
"I've been really comfortable with the car from the moment we put it on track yesterday and I am enjoying my first GP weekend here. We've definitely been on the pace all weekend and the confidence is high. It is a shame to lose the front row and having to start from P5 as it's not the easiest track to overtake on. However, we will try our best to recover some positions and fight to finish on the podium."
Lando Norris: "As a team we've had a very good day - and a good weekend so far. P3 is not a bad job at all and both of us are within a tenth of pole - tiny, tiny margins. Oscar's done a great job, and so did Max. It's going to be a good race tomorrow. It'll be exciting in the car and hopefully exciting to watch. A lot of it will be down to Turn 1, Lap 1, getting the right strategy, and having good pit stops. We're close, it's very exciting and I can't wait for tomorrow."
Andrea Stella - Team Principal: "After a strong performance in Miami, it was important to confirm that competitiveness was genuine. Imola has very different demands, with a fast-flowing layout and a bumpy surface. It's a big positive that we have also been competitive here, and able to fight for pole position today.
"We had a very strong result in Qualifying. Both drivers performed very well, and we were close to Red Bull, which is encouraging. Unfortunately, Oscar will start P5 after receiving a penalty. We respect and accept the decision of the stewards and, with a strong pace in the car, we look forward to recovering those lost positions with Oscar, while capitalising on Lando's front row start."
Check out our Saturday gallery from Imola here.