Three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen returned to winning ways by resisting Lando Norris’ attack to claim a dramatic victory for Red Bull at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
After being beaten in Miami, where friend and rival Norris took his first victory with McLaren, the Dutchman held on on Sunday to return home 0.725 seconds ahead of the Briton, who mounted a sweeping final attack in vain.
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Sergio Perez finished eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, in his team’s home event in Faenza.
Verstappen’s hard-won victory, after two difficult days of testing, was his third at Imola, fifth of the season and 59th of his career, putting him 48 points clear of Leclerc in the drivers’ title race.
“We had a fantastic race considering how it started and I had to work hard to do it,” admitted Verstappen. “Throughout the race I pushed hard to create a gap.
“I felt quite strong on the medium tires, but on the hard tires it was more difficult to manage and in the last 15 laps I had no grip and was sliding a lot.
“I could see it behind me and I’m super happy to win here today.”
Norris said: “It’s frustrating! This seems more painful. It hurts me to say it, but with one or two more laps I think I would have had it.”
Leclerc, whose podium with Ferrari in their hearts was acclaimed by masses of Italian fans, said: “At least one podium! Obviously I wanted to win and I couldn’t.
“They were incredibly fast at the end, but things are looking good for us for the rest of the season. Munich will be special.”
