Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought victory at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, fending off a charging Lando Norris in the closing stages to claim his second win of the 2024 season. The Dutchman executed a flawless race, overcoming early pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri before managing his pace to stay ahead of Norris after a late Safety Car intervention.
Verstappen’s Masterclass at Imola
Starting from second on the grid, Verstappen made a sensational move on polesitter Piastri through the Tamburello chicane on the opening lap, seizing the lead and never looking back. The Red Bull driver quickly built a comfortable gap, while Piastri struggled to keep up with the reigning world champion’s relentless pace.
The race strategy became a key talking point as teams debated between a one-stop or two-stop approach. Piastri was among the first to pit on Lap 14, switching to hard tyres, but the early stop failed to pay off as Verstappen extended his lead before making his own stop under a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) on Lap 29—triggered by Esteban Ocon’s stricken Haas.
The VSC allowed Verstappen to pit without losing significant time, emerging with a commanding 20-second lead over Norris, who had moved up to second. However, the race was far from over.
Late Drama with Safety Car Shake-Up
A full Safety Car on Lap 46—after Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli retired with a mechanical issue—threw a curveball into the mix. Verstappen and Norris both pitted for fresh tyres, while Piastri stayed out, raising questions about whether McLaren would prioritize Norris for the restart.
When racing resumed, Verstappen managed the restart perfectly, while Norris wasted no time overtaking his teammate to claim second. Piastri, now on older tyres, had to defend fiercely against a charging Lewis Hamilton, who recovered well from a difficult qualifying to finish fourth for Ferrari.
Norris Pushes Hard but Falls Short
Norris closed the gap to Verstappen in the final laps, setting multiple fastest laps, but the Red Bull driver held his nerve to cross the line just six seconds clear of the McLaren.
“It was a really tough race,” Verstappen admitted. “Lando was pushing hard at the end, but we managed the tyres well and made the right calls. Winning Red Bull’s 400th Grand Prix is special.”
Norris, though disappointed not to challenge for the win, was satisfied with second. “We’re getting closer every weekend,” he said. “Max was just a bit too strong today, but we’ll keep pushing.”
Piastri secured the final podium spot, marking another strong result for McLaren. “It’s great to be back on the podium, but we’ll review the strategy to see if we could have done better,” the Australian reflected.
Ferrari’s Mixed Fortunes
Hamilton’s fourth place was a solid recovery after a difficult qualifying, while teammate Charles Leclerc struggled for pace, finishing sixth after a fierce late battle with Williams’ Alex Albon, who impressed with fifth.
George Russell took seventh as Mercedes’ sole finisher after Antonelli’s retirement, while Carlos Sainz salvaged points for Williams in eighth.
Standout Performances Further Back
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar continued his strong form with ninth, while Yuki Tsunoda fought back from his qualifying crash to claim the final point in tenth.
Aston Martin had another disappointing outing, with Fernando Alonso 11th and Lance Stroll 15th. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished 13th, while debutant Franco Colapinto took 16th in his first F1 race.
Championship Implications
Verstappen’s victory extends his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren solidifies its position as Red Bull’s closest challenger. Ferrari remains in the hunt, but Mercedes and Aston Martin have work to do to close the gap.
Final Classification – Top 10:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) +6.054s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +12.915s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +15.832s
- Alex Albon (Williams) +26.112s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +28.543s
- George Russell (Mercedes) +36.341s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) +40.546s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +47.112s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) +49.831s
With the Monaco Grand Prix up next, the battle at the front is heating up. Can McLaren or Ferrari finally topple Verstappen, or will Red Bull continue their dominance? The streets of Monte Carlo will provide the next thrilling chapter.
Reporter