Breaking: Imola Grand Prix Qualifying DELAYED Following FIA Ann…read more
Imola Grand Prix Qualifying DELAYED Following FIA Ann…read more
Qualifying for the 2025 Imola Grand Prix has been postponed after an official update from Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA. The session, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, encountered an unexpected interruption that led to an extended delay.
The delay stems from a controversial moment during the first qualifying session (Q1), involving Haas driver Ollie Bearman. Bearman appeared to have secured a place in Q2 by setting a lap time fast enough to advance. However, his lap was later deleted by race stewards, who cited that he crossed the finish line after the red flag had been waved—an automatic violation.
Following that decision, concerns were raised by Haas and other teams over the exact timing of the red flag and whether Bearman had indeed crossed the line before it came into effect. This uncertainty led to the FIA stepping in to investigate further, pausing all qualifying activities to conduct a thorough review of the situation.
Initially, the FIA had announced that qualifying would resume at 16:46 local time. However, with questions surrounding the accuracy of the red flag timing and its potential impact on the session’s outcome, the restart was further postponed to allow stewards more time to assess the incident properly.
The controversy has added tension to an already competitive weekend at the historic Imola circuit, where teams are closely matched in performance. Fans and drivers alike now await a final decision on Bearman’s lap and when qualifying will ultimately resume.
The FIA has yet to confirm a new official time for the session to restart, as their investigation into the timing data and footage from Q1 continues. The outcome could have significant implications for the rest of the grid heading into Sunday’s race.
