Max Verstappen reignited his Formula One title protection with a masterful victory on the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, pulling off a daring first-lap overtake and holding off a hard-charging McLaren duo in a thriller which will mark Imola’s ultimate look on the F1 calendar.
The Red Bull star launched his assault from second on the grid, outbraking standings chief Oscar Piastri into Turn 2 with a wide ranging transfer across the exterior – a cross that set the tone for the remainder of the race and showcased Verstappen at his aggressive finest.
“The start wasn’t perfect, but I thought, ‘Let’s send it,’ and it stuck,” Verstappen mentioned. “That move really unlocked the pace.”
From there, Verstappen constructed a cushty lead, solely to see it evaporate when a security automotive bunched the sphere. But he stored his cool, warding off late stress to take his second win of the season and Red Bull’s four-hundredth Grand Prix look in type. It was his first win since Japan in April.
Behind him, Lando Norris handed McLaren teammate Piastri with 5 laps to go to say second – his more energizing tires proving the distinction in a near-carbon copy of Verstappen’s opening transfer.
“We had a good little battle at the end,” Norris mentioned. “Oscar’s a tough one to race, but fair. Verstappen and Red Bull were just too quick today.”
Piastri, chasing a fourth straight win, needed to accept third and noticed his championship lead shrink. Norris now trails him by simply 13 factors, whereas Verstappen closed to inside 9 of second place.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, in his first race in crimson on dwelling soil, recovered from twelfth on the grid to complete fourth after capitalizing on a chaotic late scrap between Charles Leclerc and Williams’ Alex Albon.
Albon complained of being compelled huge by Leclerc in a wheel-to-wheel change, just for Hamilton to comb previous each.
Ferrari later instructed Leclerc to yield fifth to Albon.
George Russell was seventh for Mercedes, with Carlos Sainz Jr. eighth within the second Williams. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) took ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) accomplished the highest 10 after climbing from final following a qualifying crash.
While overtaking was anticipated to be uncommon at Imola’s tight, undulating circuit, followers have been handled to daring passes, fierce duels, and a basic Verstappen masterclass.
Imola, revered by drivers for its old-school really feel and demanding format, could have hosted its ultimate Formula One race. Its present contract expired with Sunday’s Grand Prix, and whereas no official announcement has been made, the long run seems to be unsure.
“If we don’t come back here, it’ll be a shame,” Piastri mentioned Saturday – a sentiment echoed by many within the paddock.
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