Max Verstappen takes Imola Sprint pole position as Lewis Hamilton's woes continue at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in Qualifying for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and will be on pole for Saturday’s Sprint race in Imola. The Sprint will make its first appearance of 2022, in what is the fourth race of the season, and Red Bull driver Verstappen will have the best chance to get the maximum eight points on offer and pole for Sunday’s feature event.

Ad/> Lewis Hamilton scraped into Q2 in 15th, but got no further as Mercedes’ woes in 2022 continued. Emilia-Romagna Grand PrixMercedes boss Wolff: 'Literally zero grip' at Imola3 HOURS AGO Hamilton’s hopes of edging into Q3 were scuppered by a red flag after Carlos Sainz lost the rear of his Ferrari and hit the barriers.

By the time Q2 was restarted, rain had arrived and those outside the top 10 had no chance of improving their times. With Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell also missing out, it was the first time since Japan in 2012 that there was no Mercedes car in Q3 of qualifying.