F1 news LIVE: Christian Horner sends dig McLaren’s way after Max Verstappen victory

One top-five finish, seventh in the championship - it’s not been the start to the season desired for Lewis Hamilton.

"I anticipated it would be very tough, because I've joined a team before,” Hamilton said, referencing his move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, in his session with the written press at Imola on Thursday.

"I came in with a really open mind. I didn't know how tough it was going to be. I knew it was going to be challenging.

“It's as challenging as it could ever be. On all fronts."

“We were going for it, we thought the medium tyre would be a fast one - a good choice. A small compromise for tomorrow but worth it to be in the top-three.

“It was very challenging, really happy with P3 - couldn’t have achieved much more today. We want to get back on the podium tomorrow.”

Verstappen: “Jesus, is he really OK?”

“You can always do a bit more with a lap, but we are just nowhere at the moment,” Leclerc said.

“There’s not enough performance in the car, I keep repeating myself. We need to be better.

“Very hard [for the race], I can fight as much as I want but I cannot do miracles. This is what there is in the car, I’m trying to extract the maximum out of it.”

After finishing P4 in qualifying, Norris said: "I made a lot of mistakes, it is just never good enough in my final lap in qualifying," Norris said.

"Everyone always goes quicker, and I go slower, so it is just not good enough. [There is nothing wrong] with the car, it is on pole and the best car on track.

"I am not just going to blame the car, it is on me. I've felt good all weekend, I felt good in Q1 and Q2, and I felt like there was lap time available.

"But when I try to go for the lap time, it just doesn't go. A lot of things have changed from last year, and in my whole career, qualifying has been my biggest strength by a long way.

"But this year, it is just not coming my way, and I think we understand the reasons why, but of course, I am not going to be the happiest about it, because I want to be fighting for pole, and things are not going the way they should.”

1. Oscar Piastri

2. Max Verstappen

3. George Russell

4. Lando Norris

5. Fernando Alonso

6. Carlos Sainz

7. Alex Albon

8. Lance Stroll

9. Isack Hadjar

10. Pierre Gasly

11. Charles Leclerc

12. Lewis Hamilton

13. Kimi Antonelli

14. Gabriel Bortoleto

15. Liam Lawson

16. Franco Colapinto*

17. Nico Hulkenberg

18. Esteban Ocon

19. Ollie Bearman

20. Yuki Tsunoda

*Franco Colapinto received a one-place grid penalty for an infringement in qualifying

Prior to his crash, we thought Colapinto entered the fast lane too early - and we were right!

A one-place grid drop - Colapinto will start 16th on the grid on Sunday.

Liam Lawson is promoted to 15th.

Time BST

• Race: 2pm

“Tough one, tough one,” said Hamilton, who has only managed one top-five finish in the first six races of the season.

“Ultimately, I feel super gutted, devastated, that we weren’t able to get through. I really feel we’ve made many positive steps over the weekend.

“When we put the new tyres on, we didn’t have any more grip, couldn’t go any faster, everyone else managed to switch on the tyres.

“To be in front of the Italian fans, first time for Ferrari, to not manage to get to Q3 is bittersweet.”

“A very tough session with all the delays and red flags, and the tyres.

“We got into a nice place for qualifying, I had about four cars in the last corner!”