An unusual Friday today in Imola, where the 4th race of the 2022 F1 season will take place on Sunday.

Unusual for the format adopted, that of the “sprint” weekend, with only two free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, and a sprint qualifying - like that of today - which determines the starting grid for the sprint race on Saturday. A particular weekend also for the weather conditions, which added to completely new cars and which, in part, have not been tested in the wet, becomes a very important variable.

The sprint qualifying, tomorrow, that will decide the starting order of the actual race on Sunday will see Max Verstappen in front of everyone, followed by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and Lando Norris’ McLaren.

A session with many interruptions and red flags, one caused also by Norris in the end, when the British made a mistake in the out-lap and put a full stop to the session.

“I am happy, I’m top three, which is quite a surprise for us. There was a lot left in the lap. I tried to get the tyres up to temperature, but I pushed too hard on the out lap," said Norris, immediately after qualifying.

“It’s a shame because there was a chance at least to maybe have a go at Charles [Leclerc]. It’s difficult to say because I am sure everybody can say they could’ve improved.

“There was a possibility for us to go forward even more because the car was feeling good and I was feeling confident, so it’s a shame it ended like that but a good position for tomorrow so I’m happy.”

“It’s difficult to say, these conditions made a big difference for us today and that’s why we are in the position we are,” he added. 

“I think if it was completely dry, we would not be in third place. We made the most of today of course and we’ve given ourselves the best opportunity to score some good points this weekend.”

Lando’s teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, secured McLaren a sixth place, but he said that he could do more, if he had the chance to go out for a second lap. He added that the pace was good, but he’s a bit disappointed and ready to give it all in the sprint race tomorrow.

“I was actually really happy with the session, I’m a little frustrated because I think we had more pace than what we’ve showed, I think it was just a timing thing,” Ricciardo said.

“If I’m not wrong just me and Charles did one lap in Q3, everyone else did two, and obviously in these conditions it helps massively, but it is what it is. On that side i’m disappointed, but of course I’m happy with the pace we had and with the fact that I was comfortable in the car, so it was pretty decent after all”.

“I think I had more to show today, it’s all good, but I feel like I have a bit of a point to prove, so I’m really looking forward to the race.

“I think it’s dry tomorrow, so I don’t know where that puts us,” the Australian concluded.