Russell Rockets to P3 in Dramatic Imola Qualifying as Antonelli Eyes Recovery Drive
Imola, Italy – May 17, 2025 — George Russell delivered an impressive qualifying performance to secure P3 on the grid for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, navigating a chaotic and competitive session that saw multiple red flags and tight margins at the historic Imola circuit. Teammate Kimi Antonelli will start 13th after a frustrating Q2 exit, despite showing promising pace in practice.
The final free practice session earlier in the day focused heavily on optimizing performance over a single lap, with teams comparing the Soft (C6) and Medium (C5) compounds in preparation for qualifying. That preparation proved crucial during an eventful Q1 that was twice halted due to heavy crashes involving Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto. Fortunately, both drivers walked away unscathed.
Russell and Antonelli successfully advanced into Q2, though the Italian rookie narrowly missed out on a Q3 berth. His final flying lap was just half a second off session leader Oscar Piastri, underlining how fiercely competitive the midfield has become.
In the decisive Q3 shootout, Russell posted a strong early time on the Soft tyres but switched to the Mediums for his final attempt. The bold strategic move paid off as he slotted into third, only 0.137 seconds behind pole-sitter Piastri. Russell praised the team’s tactical decision and expressed satisfaction with the result, noting, “The car felt really strong out there… Everything just came together on the lap.”
Despite his strong starting position, Russell remains cautious about overtaking opportunities at Imola, a circuit known for its narrow, technical layout. “Fighting with the McLarens ahead will not be easy,” he said, “but we showed solid pace on our long runs in practice. If we can repeat that tomorrow, a podium is definitely within reach.”
Meanwhile, Antonelli was left frustrated after failing to extract the full potential of the Soft compound in Q2. “It just didn’t feel quite right,” he admitted. “It was really tricky to get the tyres in the right window, and I struggled to find a rhythm.”
While a P13 starting spot presents a challenge on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult, Antonelli remains optimistic about his chances. “Our long-run pace looked good, and if we can capitalise on any opportunities, points are still possible,” he said.
With unpredictable conditions, tight margins, and rising tension in the championship fight, Sunday’s race promises high drama. Russell will look to challenge the front-runners, while Antonelli hopes to charge through the field in front of his home fans.
