Hello and welcome to this Total Motorsport live blog for the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP from Imola as teams and drivers take on the first Formula 1 race of the European season at one of the most storied circuits in F1 history.
Oscar Piastri starts the race on pole position for McLaren as he pipped Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, with George Russell beating out the Australian’s teammate, Lando Norris, into third position.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso produced a standout lap to secure fifth, his best qualifying result of the season, also on the medium tyre. Behind him, Williams pair Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon continued their strong weekend with P6 and P7, while Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.
Total-Motorsport.com’s F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP live updates will offer fans unparalleled insight into team strategies, reliability concerns, and contenders. So stay tuned with us as the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP unfolds live from Imola in Italy.
F1 Emilia Romagna GP 2025 LIVE: Latest Updates
WATCH: The move that won Verstappen the race
Christian Horner warned McLaren’s Oscar Piastri ahead of the race that Max Verstappen that the defending world champion would go for it in Imola.
And that’s exactly what happened when the likes went out, with an incredible move to go swooping around the outside of the Tamburello chicane to seize the lead.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
Check it out below:
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS 2025 EMILIA ROMAGNA GP
A bold move from Max Verstappen and shrewd strategy from Red Bull allows the four-time world champion to deliver a mammoth victory in Imola as he fends off both McLaren cars to win the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP for the fourth time in his career.
That will give him and his team so much hope about their championship prospects after a remarkable turnaround in form from their Friday Free Practice woes. He’s doing everything he can to keep his foot in the door and that’s exactly why he’s Formula 1’s best driver at this moment.
Lando Norris finishes second after making a clean move around the outside of Oscar Piastri with a tyre advantage, he closes the gap in the standings to the championship leader; who was fortunate the laps ran out when they did with a fast-charging Lewis Hamilton right behind in the Ferrari at the line.
It’s game on in this title as the sport heads to the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix next time out. Will Red Bull be in the mix once again?
Lap 63/63: Leclerc gives Albon the place back
Alex Albon’s incident with Charles Leclerc is under investigation and Ferrari tell their driver to hand the Williams driver back the place.
Smart call from the team to protect the points. There were a plethora of drivers behind within five seconds so that ensures Leclerc keeps sixth instead of finishing 11th.
He’s not happy about it though, he slams the racing rules.
Lap 61/63: Hamilton around the outside of Leclerc!
Lewis Hamilton wastes no time blasting past Charles Leclerc, clearing the Ferrari at the first time of asking with a sweeping move around the outside of Tamburello, effectively Turn 1 in Imola.
Hamilton quickly pushes on and drops his teammate to secure fourth. A great effort from the Brit.
Lap 60/63: LECLERC FORCES ALBON OFF
Alex Albon hangs it out around the outside of the Ferrari into Tamburello but Charles Leclerc pushes the Williams off over the gravel, their ears almost touch!
That lets Lewis Hamilton sneak by and take the place. Albon goes from fourth to sixth through absolutely no fault of his own.
That’s what these ridiculous overtaking rules give you.
Lap 59/63: Great defence from Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc is showing off his mastery of defending in Imola as he fends off Alex Albon into Tamburello with some expert racecraft against a quicker Williams car.
He’s running in fourth, but for how much longer can he hold this position?
Lap 58/63: Norris passes Piastri for second!
Lando Norris now overtakes Oscar Piastri around the outside into Tamburello and the pair are just inches away from contact, but it’s all fair between the teammates!
Norris can now set about locking down second. Verstappen is long gone.
Lap 56/63: Hamilton all over Russell as McLaren go head-to-head
It’s all happening in Imola as Lewis Hamilton thinks about an ambitious move around the outside of Piratella in Italy, but backs off from George Russell’s Mercedes to live another day.
Lando Norris has DRS on Oscar Piastri in their duel for second, but he hasn’t managed to make a move stick yet. The McLarens are now four seconds behind Verstappen, who can begin managing the gap behind.
Lap 55/63: DRS enabled as Albon and Norris noted
Alex Albon and Lando Norris could see their races fall apart as both are noted for a safety car infringement, although no investigation has been launched yet.
Max Verstappen leads by 1.8 seconds as DRS is enabled, the Dutchman is heading for his second win of the season.
GREEN FLAG: Lap 54/63: Verstappen bolts
Max Verstappen bolts through the Rivazza corners and leaves Oscar Piastri high and dry as he retains the lead of the race into Turn 1.
Piastri manages to repel Lando Norris, who himself is under pressure from Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari!
DRS will be enabled on the next lap as Alex Albon has a look at Leclerc for fourth place!
Great action in Imola.
Lap 53/63: Bearman uncaps himself
Oliver Bearman un-laps himself for Haas and that means the safety car should be back into the pits any moment now.
It will be a sprint to the finish line with 10 laps to go in Imola.
Who will take the victory? Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris?
And can Alex Albon snatch a surprise podium?
Lap 50/63: Norris asks for team orders
Lando Norris tells McLaren that Oscar Piastri’s tyres don’t look particularly healthy and if the team wants to win this race then, “they know what to do”.
We’re sure Piastri won’t be particularly interested in letting his teammate through, but he will take some time to warm up those older hard tyres.
The recovery vehicle is leaving the track so we should be back to green soon.
Lap 48/63: Norris and Verstappen pit!
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen both head into the pits for McLaren and Red Bull respectively, with the Dutchman holding the lead.
Norris drops down to third with a new set of hards, as Oscar Piastri stays out and takes up second place.
That’s a headache for McLaren to solve. Will their drivers follow team orders if the team wants the win?
Alex Albon and Lewis Hamilton also pit so they will be quick to the end. Could they take the podium away from McLaren’s Piastri with considerably younger tyres?
Lap 47/63: SAFETY CAR: Antonelli out of the race
Kimi Antonelli has a power failure on his Mercedes and he is out of the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP.
It’s a very similar DNF to Esteban Ocon’s earlier, but this time the FIA opt for the full safety car in Imola.
That will bunch the field up.
Lap 45/63: Ferrari in an awkward position again
Lewis Hamilton is running in fifth as he chases down Alex Albon for fourth in Imola, chipping away at the driver ahead’s time.
Charles Leclerc, however, is closing up to the Brit ahead.
Could Ferrari have to swap their drivers around again as they did in Miami?
Lap 42/63: Double points for Williams
Carlos Sainz now move past Nico Hulkenberg and drops the Sauber down to 11th on track.
That’s both Williams cars into the points once again. Sainz P10 and Albon P4.
Lap 40/63: Albon loses podium dream
Alex Albon’s outside hopes of a podium at the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP comes to an end as Oscar Piastri swoops around the outside into the Tamburello chicane.
The Williams star now turns his eyes to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc behind him, can he fight off both Ferrari cars for fourth place?
Lap 39/63: Hulkenberg into the Top 10!
It’s 600 races for Sauber and they could bag a point as Nico Hulkenberg sneaks by Fernando Alonso to claim 10th place.
It’s going to be a tough ask with Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsundoa not too far behind the German with plenty of laps to go.
Lap 38/63: Leclerc up to seventh
Charles Leclerc now moves past Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes and takes seventh at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, he’s slowly plucking away at the cars ahead.
The Monegasque is now 1.5 seconds behind Isack Hadjar and 2.8 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton.
Could we get drama for Ferrari with potential team orders? They have the ability to finish fourth here.
Lap 36/63: Order at the top as Verstappen leads
Max Verstappen leads this 2025 Emilia Romagna GP by a very comfortable margin of 18.5 seconds in Imola to Lando Norris behind so he absolutely has this in the bag and simply has to go through the motions until the chequered flag.
Then comes Alex Albon in the Williams ahead of Oscar Piastri, who pitted for McLaren under that virtual safety car and now bids to work his way back up to the podium. They’re 10 seconds behind Norris.
Then comes Lewis Hamilton in fifth ahead of Hadjar, Antonelli, Leclerc, Russell and Alonso in the Top 10.
Lap 34/63: Hamilton swoops by Kimi Antonelli
Lewis Hamilton finally gets his move done on Kimi Antonelli and he clears the Mercedes to move up into sixth.
That releases him to bring his race to life by chasing down Isack Hadjar ahead in the Racing Bulls.
He’s already opened up two seconds to Antonelli behind, so that sixth place is secure.
REPLAY: Unsafe release for Charles Leclerc?
Charles Leclerc loses out under the virtual safety car and has to pit again, meaning he’s now ninth and behind Lewis Hamilton and several other cars he was initially projected to be ahead.
Angrily complaining of his luck with safety car timing, he’s now aggressively trying to work his way past Lace Stroll (yet to stop) and he does so, picking off the Aston Martin within a lap or two of the restart.
Could his day get worse for him, however? As he pitted for a second time under the VSC, he is unsafely released.
It’s yet to be noted, but that could be a penalty for the Monegasque driver.
Lap 31/63: Piastri pits from second
Oscar Piastri officially commits to the two-stop strategy by taking an extra set of the hard tyres, he’s now down to fourth position behind Alex Albon, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Work to do for the Australian if he aims to get back onto the podium against a Williams that will be in absolutely no mind to let him through.
The VSC has just ended and we’re back racing.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR: Lap 30/63: Verstappen pits from lead!
That couldn’t have been more perfect for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as Esteban Ocon’s Haas pulls over to the side of the road with a mechanical failure moments after Lando Norris pits.
That should seal the victory for the Dutchman as he emerges with a comfortable lead ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Several other drivers pit, including Alex Albon for Williams and Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls – both on the hards. This could be a huge result for the pair.
They’ve got Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes close behind.
Lap 29/63: Norris pits for McLaren
Lando Norris heads into the pits from second and gets a 2.1 second stop, heading back out onto the circuit in seventh place.
What can he do on those tyres?
Lap 28/63: Albon for a podium?
If this is a one-stop race then Alex Albon could be on for an astonishing result for Williams, seeming as though he could be heading for fourth place or perhaps even a touch beyond.
He’s yet to pit from the medium tyre and he will take the hards, and he has a 7.2 second gap to Isack Hadjar behind.
If he gets fourth, then with how aggressive Piastri has been on those hard tyres, could the Williams driver hunt him down to the flag?
A safety car right now would be a game-changer.
Lap 26/63: Issues for Russell
George Russell isn’t quite pleased with something on his Mercedes as he aims to work his way back up through the field after pitting from fourth position in Imola.
The Brit is currently 11th and trying to chase down Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ahead, but it isn’t easy for him.
“It’s like the rear trackrod or something is broken,” Russell says over the radio. “Because the rears are moving.
“Even in a straight line.”
Lap 22/63: One stopper beckons for Norris and Albon
Carlos Sainz is told Alex Albon is lapping at a 1:21.8 and feels that means it could be a one-stopper for the Williams driver running in third.
The Spaniard sounds a little frustrated, of course, he’s running in 14th after opting for the two-stopper that dropped him down from sixth.
Will Joseph also tells Lando Norris the key to this race is to go long and save tyres, hinting at a one-stop too for McLaren.
Max Verstappen, yet to bite at pitting, seems to agree also based on his inaction.
Lap 19-20/63: Piastri making moves
Oscar Piastri now picks off Oliver Bearman’s Haas for ninth position on track and he’s now onto the gearbox of Franco Colapinto, who can’t offer much resistance to the McLaren either in the Alpine.
The Aussie is using hip his tyres, but he is making sure he edges closer to Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in the lead.
Red Bull’s Verstappen continues to lead McLaren’s Norris by 9.5 seconds in Imola.
Lap 18/63: Tsunoda to block Piastri
Yuki Tsunoda has been told by Red Bull to hold Oscar Piastri up as much as is possible to give Max Verstappen an advantage.
However, there isn’t much the 24-year-old can actually do and Piastri moves through at the first time of asking with a lunge around the outside into Tamburello.
That was a big move in the contest of this race win.
Lap 16/63: Hamilton still behind Antonelli
Lewis Hamilton is still stuck behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, his replacement at the Silver Arrows.
The 18-year-old Italian, from Bologna, is doing a good job against the Ferrari behind and Mercedes power has just enough to fend off the 40-year-old on the solitary straight.
Will the Brit move through soon? Both are running on the hards in what is expected to be a two-stop race.
Lap 14/63: Piastri pits for McLaren
Oscar Piastri pits to try to spring the undercut on Max Verstappen, but he gets a 3.6 second-stop and loses around 1.5 seconds to Red Bull if they deliver a good stop when he is brought into the pits.
The Dutchman is staying out at the moment, his team believes they need a tyre advantage to combat the McLarens.
He leads Lando Norris by 10.2 seconds as things stand.
Lap 13/63: Several drivers pit and Leclerc is a huge winner
Charles Leclerc is on it at the moment as the Ferrari driver aims to give the Tifosi in the crowd something to cheer about at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.
His undercut has managed to get him ahead of Fernando Alonso and George Russell, that puts the Monegasque potentially fourth when the order all settles down!
Ferrari could salvage a decent result here.
Lap 11/63: Norris finally passes Russell
Norris tries the same move once again around the outside and this time he finally gets through into Turn 4 and 5, and fends off George Russell’s Mercedes into the Tosa corner.
He can now kick on and try to chase down Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. He’s around eight seconds behind the pair.
Lap 10/63: Norris onto the grass!
Norris tries the same line through Turns 2 and 3 but this time opts for the inside line on the run into the Variante Villeneuve.
Russell closes the door and the McLaren still tries to hang it out but goes onto the grass in the process!
All fair from both drivers, Norris slightly over ambitious.
Lap 9/63: Norris racing Russell for the podium
George Russell is compromised all the way through Sector 1 as he defends from McLaren’s Lando Norris behind.
The Mercedes driver just about manages to hold the position, but it feels as though his British compatriot will be through sooner rather than later.
They’re six seconds off the lead at the moment.
Lap 8/63: DRS train beginning to form
This is the problem with the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and the modern Formula 1 cars, DRS trains form very quickly.
Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, in fifth, heads Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
Nobody is able to get through yet.
Lap 7/63: Verstappen extending advantage
Oscar Piastri, so far, isn’t able to make an impression on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after that big move into Turn 1.
The Dutchman leads the McLaren by 1.7 seconds in Imola.
Lap 3/63: Gasly goes off battling Leclerc
Pierre Gasly runs wide at the Piratella corner and takes a heavy trip through the gravel, his Alpine bouncing across the sand as he drops from ninth in Imola down to 14th.
Will he complain on the radio? Personally, it seemed like he went wide on his own instead of being ran wide.
Lewis Hamilton thinks a move around the outside of Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, but has to back off. He didn’t quite have the speed.
Leclerc ninth, Hadjar 10th, Antonelli 11th and Hamilton 12th.
LIGHTS OUT IN ITALY: What a move from Verstappen!
Max Verstappen gets a bad start off the line and faces the prospect of dropping down to third behind George Russell but he makes a sensational move into the Tamburello corner and snatches the lead from Oscar Piastri!
Sensational stuff from the four-time world champion, it was clean and very, very fair. You cannot give him a single inch.
Lewis Hamilton dropped to 13th on that hard tyre, and Esteban Ocon has pitted at the end of the first lap for new tyres. The Haas driver takes the hards and heads back onto the track.
FORMATION LAP BEGINS: Lights out is moments away
The drivers head off for the formation lap at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and we have seconds until the action begins in Italy.
Who will take the victory before the Tifosi in the stands at the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
Expect a one-stopper in Imola as Lewis Hamilton starts on the hard tyre from Ferrari, with all of the Top 11 on the mediums.
Horner sends McLaren an ominous warning
Perhaps the most daunting thing in Formula 1 at the moment is the sight of Max Verstappen right behind you on a run to a heavy braking zone.
Will it be elbows out from the world champion? His boss thinks so as he sends Oscar Piastri a warning for the start.
“The first opportunity is the start,” Horner tells Sky Sports F1. “It’s a long run down to Turn 1.
“We will need good strategy and degradation. McLaren on Friday looked very strong at looking after their tyres.
“Max will go for it. If he hooks up a good start, for sure he will have a go. He has nothing to lose in many respects.”
Low expectations for Lando
It’s another Sunday that sees McLaren’s Lando Norris aiming to pull off a recovery job if he aims to stay in the hunt for the 2025 Formula 1 title.
Starting from fourth on the grid isn’t terrible, however. Yet the Brit doesn’t set himself a particularly high bar ahead of lights out. Can he surprise himself by snatching the win?
“I will try to go forward,” Norris tells media. “I’m still aiming for a podium.
“I will have some fun and do some overtaking. I don’t think it will be an easy race for me, but it’s a long race.
“Not an easy track to overtake and making the most of the strategy will be important.”
READ: Check out your final grid for the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP
It’s Oscar Piastri on pole ahead of Max Verstappen, with George Russell and Lando Norris forming up the second row.
Which one of them will lead out of Tamburello at a circuit where track position is absolutely vital?
Elsewhere, Yuki Tsunoda starts from the pit lane and Franco Colapinto earns a one-place grid-drop penalty for a procedural infringement in qualifying.
Here is your grid for the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP:
Yuki Tsunoda starts from the pit lane
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda will start from the pit lane after his team chose to change his entire power unit and gearbox following a huge crash in qualifying.
He had qualified 20th anyway, so he hasn’t really lost anything and can now focus on a pure set-up for the race without any compromises. Will he be able to move through the field?
Check out his crash below:
READ: How will the strategies shape up in Imola?
Pirelli have brought their softest range of tyres to the Imola circuit in a bid to end the processionally one-stop strategies in Formula 1 of late.
Will it work? What is the best way to the chequered flag?
Find out below:
George Russell weighs in on Mercedes’ chances
George Russell begins from third on the grid for Mercedes at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, so what can he do against Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen ahead?
The Brit isn’t expecting an easy time of it when the lights go out.
“With the McLarens and Max,” Russell told F1 TV. “We’ve always been quite close on a Saturday, but the most important day is today.
“I don’t think it will be quite as straightforward. The McLarens are really fast, Max has been doing a great job, so we’ll see what we can do.”
Hamilton feels the Tifosi love
It’s been far from a good weekend for Ferrari so far. Both cars were knocked out of qualifying and will start from 11th and 12 on the grid.
However, that doesn’t stop the passion of the Italian fans as Lewis Hamilton just discovered. It’s his first race weekend in Italy with the team, can the Tifosi love cheer him on to a big result?
“Such an honour to be here,” Hamilton said on the driver parade. “I’m filming everything because it’s the first time seeing everyone here.
“I really want to try my best to give these guys the best race possible today.
“This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I will take that energy and keep pushing. We never give up, we will get there.”
Welcome to the blog!
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Total-Motorsport.com’s live blog for the F1 2025 Emilia Romagna GP where Oscar Piastri starts from pole position for McLaren.
He has Max Verstappen right next to him in the Red Bull, so who will be in the lead by the time we exit the Tamburello chicane? Could it even be George Russell in third?
Where to Watch 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
For viewers in the United States, 2025 Emilia Romagna GP will be shown on ESPN2, with streaming coverage via ESPN+.
In the UK, the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP is available on Sky Sports F1. And fans in Australia can catch all the action on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, and Foxtel.
What time is the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
The 2025 Emilia Romagna GP begins at 3:00pm local time on Sunday at Imola. That means a similar start for F1 fans in the UK, where the race begins at 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon.
Over in the USA, the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP race from Imola begins at 9:00am ET on Sunday morning, which means an early morning 6:00am PT start for those on the West Coast.
