Max Verstappen secured his eighth consecutive Formula 1 pole position at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in a weekend filled with challenges. Verstappen’s success was partly due to a strategic tow from Nico Hulkenberg. Here’s how it all played out.
Max Verstappen has been on a roll, securing pole positions since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2023. At Imola, however, he faced several hurdles. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner congratulated him, but Verstappen admitted it had been a ‘really difficult weekend so far.’ His troubles started with offs into the gravel during FP1.
During the first practice session, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was leading. In FP3, Oscar Piastri headed the session after a late crash by Sergio Perez, which stopped Verstappen from getting any practice with the soft tires before qualifying. All this made Ferrari seem like the favorite for pole position.
But things changed quickly. Ferrari’s performance faded while McLaren, with drivers Piastri and Lando Norris, emerged as strong contenders. Despite his earlier troubles, Verstappen managed to climb back to the front. GPS data from qualifying’s final runs showed it was Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris vying for the fastest times.
Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, played an unexpected role in Verstappen’s qualifying success. As Hulkenberg completed his flying lap ahead of the rest, his position on the track provided a tow effect for Verstappen. The data revealed that this tow boosted Verstappen’s speed, giving him a crucial advantage over Norris and Piastri.
From the last corner to the braking point for the first turn, Rivazza 2, Verstappen gained 0.165 seconds on Norris and 0.192 seconds on Piastri. With DRS (Drag Reduction System) open, Verstappen’s top speed peaked at 211.3 mph, compared to 208.8 mph on his first Q3 run. The extra boost put him 4.3 mph ahead of Norris and 5 mph ahead of Piastri at peak.
As they exited Tamburello, Piastri had the biggest gap, 0.269 seconds, compared to Verstappen. But he managed to narrow this at the Villeneuve chicane to 0.170 seconds. Piastri’s speed through the Tosa hairpin also saw him gain on Verstappen and Norris up the hill to Piratella, where Piastri was just 0.165 seconds behind Verstappen.
However, Verstappen restored his lead through the Variante Alta chicane. Norris, on the other hand, had smoother progress through Rivazza 2, nearly catching up with Piastri and Verstappen on the straight to the finish line. Piastri finished 0.074 seconds behind Verstappen, and Norris ended just 0.017 seconds short of Piastri.
Ultimately, it was Hulkenberg’s tow that provided Verstappen with the extra speed he needed in critical sections of the track. Verstappen’s time gains on the straights, thanks to Hulkenberg’s placement, were significant. This tow helped Verstappen edge out McLaren’s efforts and secure pole position.
Verstappen acknowledged the help he received by saying, ‘Thanks to my tow buddy Hulkenberg,’ highlighting the importance of teamwork and strategy even in such an individual sport.
Max Verstappen’s pole position at the Imola Grand Prix was a mix of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck. Nico Hulkenberg’s tow played a crucial role, demonstrating just how unpredictable and collaborative Formula 1 racing can be.
