F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Bottas on POLE at Imola, Hamilton second on grid for today – latest updates – The Sun

THE F1 season is continuing this weekend in Italy as Imola hosts Formula One for the first time in 16 years.

  • Race: Today, 12.10pm GMT
  • TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1/NOW TV

Follow all the latest from Imola with our blog below...

  • Jack Figg

    GOOD MORNING F1 FANS, IT’S RACE DAY!

    F1 bosses are confident that the sport will continue despite the UK government announcing another lockdown starting from November 5.

    On Friday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was asked whether the new lockdowns across Europe would have any impact.

    He said: “The lockdowns that we see in Europe now are very different to the lockdowns in spring. Back in spring, it was a complete shutdown of any activity, going to work, being on the street.

    “This time, at least from what we can see from France and Germany, access to pubs, restaurants and leisure places has been stopped or has been curfewed, but going to work is still permitted for the ones that need to go to work.

    “It will impact our lives, that's for sure. It will heavily impact some industries. But I think we can find a way of working around it.”

    Lewis Hamiltom has predicted a “boring race” in today’s Grand Prix in San Marino after slamming his own qualifying performance as “p*** poor”.

    Perhaps it is testament to his character that after 97 poles the 35-year-old is still irked whenever he misses one, as he was pipped by his teammate Valtteri Bottas.

    LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!

  • Joshua Mbu

  • Jake Lambourne

    DRIVE TO SURVIVE

    F1 bosses are confident that the sport will continue despite the new lockdown in the UK.

    Drives and staff employed by the teams, plus some F1 and FIA staff, are exempt from the stay at home restrictions due to the strict testing measures already in place.

    On Friday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was asked whether the new lockdowns across Europe would have any impact.

    He said: “The lockdowns that we see in Europe now are very different to the lockdowns in spring. Back in spring, it was a complete shutdown of any activity, going to work, being on the street.

    “This time, at least from what we can see from France and Germany, access to pubs, restaurants and leisure places has been stopped or has been curfewed, but going to work is still permitted for the ones that need to go to work.

    “It will impact our lives, that's for sure. It will heavily impact some industries. But I think we can find a way of working around it.”

    F1 still has four remaining GPs this season after today's race in Imola, with Turkey and two weekends in Bahrain before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

  • Jake Lambourne

    MERCEDES BATTLE

  • Jake Lambourne

    SNOOZEFEST

    Lewis Hamiltom has predicted a “boring race” in Sunday's Grand Prix in San Marino after slamming his own qualifying performance as “p*** poor”.

    Perhaps it is testament to his character that after 97 poles the 35-year-old is still irked whenever he misses one, as he was pipped by his teammate Valtteri Bottas.

    The Finn, so often the bridesmaid to Hamilton's heroics, was just 0.097 seconds quicker to take pole for the confusingly-titled Emilia Romagna GP at Imola.

    Hamilton, who had taken provisional pole with his first flying lap, was beaten by Bottas at the death to leave the world champ starting behind him.

    Hamilton said: “Valtteri did a great job and it was a p***-poor lap for myself. These things happen, you can't always get it perfect.

    “What is unfortunate with this track, is it is beautiful to drive, but I am pretty certain you will see a boring race tomorrow.

    “You can overtake on the straight but it is pretty narrow. Once you get into turn one, it is a train from there.

    “There is no place to overtake from there. So it is going to be a challenge for people following but the DRS, hopefully, will give some opportunities into turn one for people.”

  • Daniel Brookes

    VERSTAPPEN REACTION

    Max Verstappen took to Twitter to thank his team for fixing a spark plug issue after he took P3 for tomorrow's Grand Prix.

  • Daniel Brookes

    VERSTAPPEN TAKES P3

    The Red Bull team worked quickly to fix a spark plug issue in Max Verstappen's car and helped the 23-year-old qualify third on the grid for tomorrow's Grand Prix.

  • Daniel Brookes

    BOTTAS TAKES POLE

    Valtteri Bottas joins an illustrious list of drivers to take pole at Imola.

  • Ben Hunt

    AND FROM POLE SITTER, VALTTERI BOTTAS

    “This track is beautiful and it's a great feeling to get pole – I had the shakes afterwards!

    “I knew in the last lap I had to risk it and go hard and the car responded. It's a good place to start tomorrow and I'm looking forward it it”

  • Ben Hunt

    MORE FROM HAMILTON

    “I’m pretty certain you’ll see a boring race tomorrow.

    “After Turn 1 it is going to be a train as there is nowhere else to pass, but hopefully with the DRS that will give us an opportunity to overtake. Nonetheless, I’ll give it everything tomorrow.”

  • Ben Hunt

    LEWIS HAMILTON ON HIS PERFORMANCE

    “Valtteri did a great job and it was a pretty p*** poor lap from myself!

    “These things happen, you can’t always get it perfect. The speeds here are unbelievable. It was a real challenge out there.”

  • Ben Hunt
  • Ben Hunt

    BOTTAS DOES – THE FINN TAKES POLE POSITION

    Hamilton will start second. Verstappen in third and Gasly fourth.

  • Ben Hunt

    HAMILTON IS GOING EVEN QUICKER

    But so too is Bottas.

    This might be close between the two Merc men.

  • Ben Hunt

    THREE MINUTES TO GO…

    Merc are looking comfortable.

  • Ben Hunt

    IT IS CLOSE BETWEEN THE MERC DUO

  • Ben Hunt

    ALBON HAS A TIME DELETED

    The Red Bull man exceeded track limits – for the SEVENTH time today.

    He keeps on making the same mistake.

    Not good enough.

    He is in P10

  • Ben Hunt

    PROVISIONAL POLE FOR HAMILTON

    The world champ draws first blood as Bottas's flying lap is only good enough for second place.

    It is Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Gasly, Albon, Leclerc after their first attempts.

  • Ben Hunt

    Q3 IS GO

    The top 10 shoot-out. Mercedes looking good for a front row lock out.

    Will Verstappen challenge then?

    Can Gasly keep the pressure on?

    And what about Leclerc? He has a habit of coming good in the end.

  • Ben Hunt

    GREAT WORK FROM GASLY

  • Ben Hunt

    Q2 IS DONE

    Stroll, Russell, Vettel, Ocon and Perez are eliminated.

    Both AlphaTauris are in the top 10. Both McLarens also into Q3

  • Ben Hunt

    VERSTAPPEN IS INTO Q3

    Super effort from Red Bull. Incredible stuff in the garage.

  • Ben Hunt

    RED BULL GET VERSTAPPEN

    A spark-plug change, usually takes 15 minutes, Red Bull have done it in about 5. Incredible stuff.

    Verstappen is running again.

    Two minutes to go.

  • Ben Hunt

    DROP ZONE

    Crikey, look at that…

    Albon, Stroll, Russell, Vettel, Verstappen

  • Ben Hunt

    AND NOW ALBON SPINS

    A double disaster for Red Bull. The Thai driver spins and is in for new tyres.

    Meanwhile, Verstappen is sat in the garage while the team fix a misfire in the engine.

Source: Read Full Article