Max Verstappen delivered a clinical victory at Imola in the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP, marking a major turning point in the Formula 1 title battle and handing Red Bull a timely celebration on their 400th Grand Prix anniversary weekend.
Starting second on the grid behind Oscar Piastri, the four-time world champion launched a decisive attack into Turn 2 on the opening lap. Sweeping around the outside of the Variante Tamburello chicane, Verstappen seized the lead and never looked back, controlling the race from the front with trademark precision.
Behind him, McLaren faced a difficult afternoon of tactical decisions and missed opportunities. Piastri’s early pit stop, designed to cover off tyre degradation, backfired spectacularly. It left the Australian stuck in traffic, costing him vital time and opening the door for Verstappen to build a commanding lead over team-mate Lando Norris.
“The start wasn’t particularly great but I was on the outside line, the normal line and I just thought well, I’ll try and send it and it worked out well,” Verstappen said after the race victory at Imola.
“Then I could unleash the pace, we were good on our tyres. The VSC was handy, even on the hard tyre our pace was strong. The restart we managed well and brought it home. Incredibly proud of everyone, the car has performed well and the execution of the whole race was very good.”
McLaren’s missed chance, Hamilton’s charge
Although Verstappen appeared untouchable for most of the race at Imola, a late safety car bunched up the field and gave McLaren a glimmer of hope. Norris, running on much fresher tyres, made quick work of Piastri in the closing laps and set off in pursuit of Verstappen.
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.
But the Dutchman was in complete control. A clean restart and rapid pace over the final few laps ensured the Red Bull driver crossed the line with a comfortable buffer, securing his second win of the year and cutting his championship deficit to nine points behind second-placed Norris, with Piastri a further 13 points ahead.
Piastri, meanwhile, held on for third but will rue the strategic call that saw him pit before either rival. With fresher tyres proving critical in the closing stages, McLaren’s decision arguably cost the pole-sitter a shot at the win – or at least a 1-2 finish.
Lewis Hamilton produced one of the most impressive drives of the day, moving up from 12th on the grid to finish fourth for Ferrari. Running a long first stint on the hard compound tyre, the seven-time world champion capitalised on both a virtual safety car and the late full safety car to close in on his rivals. He dispatched team-mate Charles Leclerc in the final laps to claim valuable points for Ferrari at their home race.
The race was defined by strategy, with the pit wall decisions proving as crucial as the drivers’ performances. McLaren will undoubtedly reflect on whether they could have done more to support Piastri, especially given the strength of their car around Imola.
Still, the day belonged to Verstappen and Red Bull. On a weekend where the team marked a significant milestone in their F1 journey, their star driver delivered a reminder that he remains very much in the title fight.
How did Max Verstappen win the 2025 Emilia Romagna GP?
Verstappen passed Oscar Piastri at Turn 2 on lap one and led the rest of the race at Imola, managing a late safety car to take victory.
Why did McLaren lose the lead at Imola?
An early pit stop for Oscar Piastri put him in traffic, allowing Verstappen to extend his lead while Norris couldn’t recover the gap.
What was Lewis Hamilton’s strategy in the Imola GP?
Hamilton started on hard tyres and gained places through a long first stint, then overtook Leclerc late thanks to fresher tyres.
Who leads the 2025 F1 championship after Imola?
Lando Norris is championship leader with a 13-point lead over Oscar Piastri and nine points over Verstappen.
