Red Bull Dutch driver Max Verstappen won Emilia-Romagna’s Grand Formula 1 award on Sunday, ahead of McLaren riders, Briton Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Pistri, who maintains the leading leadership.
Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) completed the race in 18th.
Dropping in the front row next to the owner of pole Pistri, Verstappen stepped deep and surpassed the Australian on the second curve, which was caught by surprise and could not defend himself in time.
“The start was not particularly good, but I was out and told myself that I was going to try [a ultrapassagem]… it worked, “explained the current champion.
Verstappen no longer lost its first place in the 63 laps of the legendary Imola track, just an hour from Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, where he won uninterruptedly since 2021.
This Sunday’s victory was the 65th of Verstappen in Formula 1 and 124th of Red Bull, on a weekend when the Austrian team celebrated their 400th Grand Prix, in the presence of several celebrities, such as former Brazilian player Ronaldo Nazário and the legend of motorcycling Valentino Rossi.
Pistri was also harmed by “Safety Car”, as Norris was the first to enter to change the tires and the Australian failed to do so.
With the race restarted, Norris surpassed his teammate and finished second. “It was a long race, it was not easy to overtake and we did everything we could,” summarized the current world runner-up.
Norris surpasses Piastri
Briton Lewis Hamilton, who started 12th on the grid, finished fourth in his first Ferrari race in Italy. His teammate, Monegasco Charles Leclerc, closed the race in sixth.
Among these two “Scuderia” riders came to Williams of Thai Alexander Albon, who repeated the 5th place reached in the previous Grand Prix, Miami’s.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz was eighth, confirming Williams’ progress.
“I am happy with the level I am showing at Williams. I was very fast in this race, both in the classification and in the race,” commented the Madrid.
His compatriot Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) concluded the race in 11th, outside the scoring zone, and with a bitter taste after dropping in 5th place on the grid.
Collapint in 18th
Argentine Franco Colapinto, in his debut at Alpine, ended in 16th place, the same position from which he started after being penalized by an accident at the qualifying session.
“The goal was to conclude today. It was difficult to score points dropping from where we started, but we did everything we could,” said the Argentine after the race.
“I think, overall, today was a positive day, with good management and strategy, even if the race was a little adverse,” he added.
In the classification of the Pilot World, Pastri maintains the lead with 146 points, 13 more than Norris and 22 ahead of Verstappen, the only pilot who seems to challenge McLaren this season.
British George Russell, the first among the “mortals” with his Mercedes, is in 4th place in the World Cup with 99 points after finishing seventh in Imola.
Result of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, in the IMOLA Circuit
- Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull) em 1h 31:33.199
- Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) a 6.109
- Oscar Piatri (from/McLaren-Mercedes) 12.956
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari) 14.356
- Alexander Albon (Tha/Williams-Mercedes) 17.945
- Charles Leclerc (Mon/Ferrari) 20.774
- George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 22.034
- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams-Mercedes) 22.898
- Isack Hadjar (FRA/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 23.586
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Red Bull) 26.446
- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 27.250
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) 30.296
- Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 31.424
- Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 32.511
- Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 32.993
- Franco frankento (arg / alpine-Renault) 33.411
- Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari) 33.808
- Gabriel Bortoleto (bra/sauber-ferrari) 38.572
Abandonment:
- Steban Ocon (Fra/haas): 28th Volta
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes-AMG): 45th time
