Oscar Piastri was judged to have impeded Magnussen and suffered three penalty positions. The starting grid in Imola changes with Leclerc and Sainz gaining a position.
Almost three hours after the end of Qualifying Imola Grand Prix change the starting grid. Change because the race stewards imposed a penalty on the Australian McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who pays a high price for preventing Kevin Magnussen. Piastri slips from second to fifth place, and that’s one good news for Sainz and Leclerc.
Why Oscar Piastri was penalized in Imola
Piastri came close to pole position, but failed to gain it by a handful of thousandths. The Australian driver, however, was the author of an impediment at the end of Q1 Kevin Magnussenstopped in front of him after closing his attempt and prevented the Dane from making the last lap, to avoid elimination on the first try.
The Haas driver complained immediately and the penalty was practically a given. After some time, after careful analysis, the commissioners decided to impose the penalty on Piastri, who therefore loses three positions and goes from the first to the third row, a very harsh penalty.
Formula 1, Verstappen on pole on the starting grid of the Imola GP: results and qualifying times
Piastri’s penalty helps Leclerc and Sainz
Piastri had conquered the front row and dreamed of fighting with Verstappen from the start and instead he will also have his teammate in front Lando Norris, advancing to the front row, and the Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who will completely occupy the second row and will immediately try to attack Norris, if not also Verstappen.
The new starting grid of the Imola GP
1st row: Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Lando Norris (McLaren)
2nd row: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3rd row: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), George Russell (Mercedes)
4th row: Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5th row: Daniel Ricciardo (Racing Bulls), Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
6th row: Sergio Perez (Red Bull), Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
7th row: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Alexander Albon (Williams)
8th row: Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
9th row: Logan Sargeant (Williams), Zhou Guanyou (Sauber)
10th row: Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
