IMAGO/MAXPPP
Max Verstappen became victorious for the second time this season at this weekend's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix ahead of the championship favorites McLarens.
Verstappen started Sunday's Grand Prix behind championship leader Oscar Piastri but a courageous first lap move saw the Dutchman take the lead into Turn 1. From there Verstappen dominated the field, and even with a late race safety car, he was able to cross the line over six seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Most teams expected a one stop race but higher than foreseen degradation and safety cars saw many teams have to switch to a two-stop.
Norris, who started P4, battled hard with the Mercedes of George Russell in the opening stint of the race. A few failed overtakes from Norris had him dropping a wheel in the grass, but the Brit eventually stuck one around the outside on Lap 11.
Russell quickly boxed for hards, followed soon after by second place runner Piastri. Running well on fresh hards, Piastri began slowly moving back up the field, battling past the likes of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen and Norris opted for a longer first stint, with Norris only deciding to pit on Lap 29. This turned out to be the perfect time to stop as an engine failure for Esteban Ocon brought out the VSC only one lap later. Piastri decided to pit for a second time under the VSC, losing track position to teammate Norris.
The VSC helped multiple drivers move up the field including Alex Albon and Lewis Hamilton who were yet to pit. With Albon running in third after the VSC it was looking like a strong result was on the cards at Williams.
Hamilton, who spent most of the opening stint stuck behind Antonelli, was able to finally get by the Italian on lap 34. Only a few laps later Hamilton passed Hadjar to bring him into the top five.
After doing his best to keep the fast approaching Piastri behind, Albon eventually lost the podium place on lap 40.
Lap 46 saw a full safety car after Kimi Antonelli pulled off the track to retire from the Grand Prix. Verstappen, Norris, and Albon all pitted from the front, with Piastri staying out on older tyres.
After many laps behind the safety car the race resumed on lap 53, with Verstappen charging off into the distance. Hamilton quickly disposed of Russell around the outside, with Norris pulling the same move on Piastri for second only a lap later.
With a few laps to go Albon attempted to take back position from Leclerc but was pushed wide into the gravel losing another place to Hamilton. The Ferraris battled the following lap with Hamilton quickly getting by Leclerc to finish in a brilliant fourth position from 12th on the grid. However, with Leclerc under investigation for pushing Albon off into the gravel, Ferrari decided to give fifth place back to Albon on track.
Further down the grid Russell took home seventh place ahead of the Williams of Carlos Sainz. Hadjar finished a solid ninth for Racing Bulls with Yuki Tsunoda rounding out the top 10.
Formula 1 returns to the principality of Monaco in just one week's time.
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