Skills and a pinch of luck: so Max Verstappen kept the McLaren of Oscar Plastri and Lando Norris at bay on the Imola circuit And he won a Grand Prix against each prediction conditioned by the Safety Car entrance. In part, the Ferraris who have left from the sixth row and eventually close in fourth place with Lewis Hamilton and the sixth with Charles Leclerc. Instead, the weekend of Kimi Antonelli ends very badly: after disastrous qualifications, the Italian sees himself betrayed on the track from Mercedes and retires for a problem to the accelerator. This year in Imola was a record edition with 242 thousand fans who crowded the autodrome, between stands and meadows. An important signal for the institutions and top of the circus in the hope that the stipulation of a new contract will be unlocked to host Formula 1.
“An exceptional result this year: we must know how to enjoy beautiful things and work because they continue,” commented the minister for sport and young people, Andrea Abadi. Net of the disappointment of qualifications, the red fans have fun thanks to the continuous twists and turns and, also, to a small redemption of the Maranello team. «We miss the performance on the dry lap and we have to work. In the race step is not that we do something magical, but we seem to be in a better condition, “said Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur. “The car gave me great sensations, the team did a fantastic job and I think we are slowly coming,” said Hamilton.
The “star” was Verstappen, at its fourth victory over the Emilian circuit: the Dutchman brings Red Bull to the highest podium thanks to his pilot qualities. A very difficult overtaking in cornering 3 on the first lap gives him the first place leaving against Lando Norris. However, the McLaren appear higher and the counter-scale is in the air. And here luck comes into play: just when the Red Bull is in evident drop, the Safety Car intervenes which indirectly promotes the Dutchman and penalizes the McLaren who had just mounted fresh tires. Charles Leclerc also pays the consequences: Monegasco is the first to change tires at the start of the race, worldwide by the soft, but has no way to exploit them because of the Virtual Safety Car who prohibits overtaking. New pit stop that Verstappen also makes the most of it. New waltz in the pits. Alonso comes out. “They are the most unfortunate pilot in the world,” communicates the Spaniard to his team after falling into 13. Position. At 43 The final part of the Grand Prix sees Verstappen extend slightly thanks to the new tires; While Leclerc is in difficulty for the worn tires due to the two close changes and must defend against the attacks of the Williams. His closure sends Albon to the curbs and the Ferrari driver ends up under investigation by the judges. Hamilton, on the other hand, with new tires easily overcomes Albon. The Monegasque, slower, lets the teammate passed.
The Englishman thus tries to grab Norris’ third place but the laps in the end are few. It closes with Vittoria Verstappen, the regrets of the McLaren and shy signals of reaction of Ferraris. Verstappen satisfied: «The car worked really well. Also all the execution of the race, when to pit, the pit stops themselves, were all very good. I am proud of the whole team, “says the Dutchman after the race. “At the beginning I braked too early, Max arrived and it passed. We also went wrong. We also made a mistake some strategic decision, it was not our best Sunday. Also at the level of the step, Verstappen was better”, chewing bitter piastri. “It was a long race, but the double podium demonstrates the great work of the team”, is the comment of Norris.