There were two red flags at the meeting, the first time that Tsunoda had caused a horrible accident, they lost access to the Villeneuve Chicane and spinned the gravel before the car drove into the air of the tire obstacle.

It somersaulted and turned it upside down, then corrected itself on landing. The Japanese were not injured and were able to leave the crash.

Tsunoda isn't the only driver to run into a hurdle, as this time it was Alpine's debut at Franco Colapinto, and this time it spins the hurdle on Tamburello Chicane.

Colapinto's accident was less dramatic as he lost control of the exit curb and swirled the grass before his nose first drove into the obstacle. Argentina was not injured either.

Pole battles are always between McLaren and Vestapon, while Red Bull drivers tied the gloves at the fastest speed in the final qualifying round at the fastest time.

Piastri ran first in the final race, looking good after the first two divisions, only to meet about five cars, ready their knees as he reached two riverside lefties to finish the knees.

He couldn't improve his time in that department on the thigh, but the first two departments were enough to put him ahead of Verstappen.

The Dutchman did improve on the last lap, but only 0.07 seconds, while his pole position did not.

Norris was third in the first round, unable to improve and was crossed by Russell, who used media tires on the final lap and more extensively with Aston Martin at the meeting.

"The race with red flags and tires is very tough. Today, the C6 (court, soft) is a real mystery.

"The team did a great job and brought the car to a good place. The last lap was great and I had about four cars on the last corner, which didn't help, but that was enough."

"Everything goes well, just the softest yard, it's hard to stay alive around the legs. One department is good, and the tires fall off me. George put his time on the medium. The soft tracks are maybe too soft."

"I don't think I'm fast enough. I didn't perform strong enough in the third quarter, so that's the same."

Pirelli brought its softest range of tires to this game in a bid to prevent the game was a one-stop strategy for lockdown traditionally at Imola.

This looks unlikely to work, the media compound works well, and Aston Martin leans towards it throughout the qualifying round.

Aston Martin made a major upgrade this weekend, with a new floor and engine cover influenced by design legend Adrian Newey, who joined the team as a management technology partner in March.

Alonso and Stroll obviously have a strategy to use mediums, as they turn to their last step in each session.

Even though the team doesn't have a brand new media to use in the top 10 shootouts, Alonso jumped from the seventh place he earned with soft tires in the first inning to a second outstanding fifth.