Richard Parks Max Verstappen made a striking return by winning the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola on Sunday. Right after the race began, Verstappen executed a daring overtake around the outside of Oscar Piastri in Turn 1, taking the lead with a spectacular move. The Dutch driver maintained firm control throughout the race, unaffected by two Safety-Car periods.
This victory marked Red Bull’s 400th Grand Prix and Verstappen’s fourth consecutive win at Imola. With this result, Verstappen reduced his championship points gap to 22 behind Piastri, who leads ahead of Lando Norris by 13 points.
Lewis Hamilton’s Strongest Ferrari Finish to Date
Starting from 12th on the grid, Lewis Hamilton impressed by finishing fourth, his best result with Ferrari so far. The seven-time world champion used smart race tactics and executed several overtakes to climb through the field. “I am happy — finally enjoying racing with the team,” Hamilton commented after the race.
McLaren’s Strategy Fails to Challenge Verstappen
McLaren attempted a split strategy between Oscar Piastri, who finished third, and Lando Norris in second place. However, once Verstappen took the lead, McLaren admitted they had no realistic chance to catch him. Team principal Andrea Stella said, “Once Max was in front, we had no chance.”
The Key Moment: Verstappen’s Daring Overtake
The decisive moment came immediately after the start when Verstappen passed Piastri on the outside at the Tamburello corner. The move was both bold and perfectly timed. “I just wanted to try it — and it worked,” Verstappen said.
Top 10 Race Finishers at Emilia-Romagna GP
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1st
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 2nd
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 3rd
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 4th
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 5th
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 6th (from 11th)
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 7th
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 8th
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 9th
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 10th
With upcoming races in Monaco and Spain, the fight for the World Championship is wide open again. Verstappen’s dominant performance signals his return to peak form, while Hamilton’s strong finish at Imola suggests the Ferrari driver could be a serious contender in the remaining season.