LANDO NORRIS and his McLaren team kept the pressure on Max Verstappen after a thrilling qualifier at Imola.

World champion, Verstappen, took pole but he was pressed to the wire by Oscar Piastri who was just 0.074 seconds slower than the Dutchman.

Max Verstappen has secured pole for the Emilia-Romagna GP
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Max Verstappen has secured pole for the Emilia-Romagna GPCredit: AFP

McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris kept the pressure on Red Bull
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McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris kept the pressure on Red BullCredit: EPA
Norris, fresh off his win in Miami, will start the race in third as McLaren continued their epic revival with both cars a fraction off pole position.

The 24-year-old said: “P3 is not a bad job at all. Within a tenth both of us for P1. Tiny margins but for us as a team we have had a great weekend.

“Oscar did a great job and so did Max. Exciting. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

“We are getting closer. To be ahead of Ferrari is also a nice result for us. It’s going to be close, it’s going to be a good race tomorrow.