Max Verstappen has set himself up to respond in Sunday's Imola Grand Prix by securing pole position.
The defending champion and 2024 leader witnessed McLaren's Lando Norris claim his first ever Formula 1 win in Miami two weeks ago.
However, as far as qualifying is concerned, normal service was resumed on Saturday as the Red Bull driver edged out Oscar Piastri, teammate of Norris.
This pole is particularly poignant with Verstappen making it eight successive poles, matching the all-time record of Aryton Senna who lost his life at this track in 1994.
EIGHT IN A ROW! 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 18, 2024
Max Verstappen equals Ayrton Senna's all-time consecutive poles record #F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/TFZxmM6i2o
Just 0.074 seconds separated the two drivers, with Norris also less than a tenth of second adrift of Verstappen in third position.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr are fourth and fifth in the Ferrari, with George Russell just 0.001 second behind in the Mercedes.
Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo impressed in the RB, taking seventh and ninth respectively, with Lewis Hamilton only in eighth spot.
Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10 in the Haas, with Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull in 11th having not made it out of Q2.
