Max Verstappen wi
ns the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after holding off Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing celebrates after winning the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix on May 18, 2024, at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola.A picture from AFP/Andrej Isaković via Getty Images
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Italy’s IMOLA Max Verstappen extended his lead in the Formula 1 championship on Sunday by winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and fending off a charge from Lando Norris of McLaren.
Verstappen took the lead and maintained his lead over Norris until the very end, when the McLaren driver put pressure on him once more. Despite this, Verstappen won by less than a second.
In particular, I lost all grip during the final ten or fifteen laps. I was sliding all over the place. Verstappen remarked, “I saw Lando closing in.” “I could not afford to make too many mistakes because it is extremely difficult to go flat out when your tires are non-functional.” Fortunately, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.
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It came after Verstappen was defeated by Norris in Miami two weeks prior, and it was the reigning champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year.
Second place went to Norris. Sunday demonstrated why the McLaren squad is this season’s strongest rival to Verstappen and Red Bull. “I think I would have had him after one or two more laps, and it hurts to say that,” Norris admitted. “It just wasn’t today, but it would have been beautiful.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, marking the team’s first podium result in Imola since 2006.
The small Imola circuit makes it difficult to overtake, and this year’s replacement of asphalt run-off zones with gravel traps further discouraged taking risks.
Halfway into the race, Leclerc caught up to Norris but lost time when he stumbled and ran across the grass.
Oscar Piastri, who had qualified second for McLaren, was penalized for obstructing Kevin Magnussen in a Haas, which caused him to slip to fifth. At the pit stops, he outperformed Sainz and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.
After a challenging weekend for Mercedes, seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh.
fter making a mistake in qualifying, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez started eleventh and finished seventh. His primary contribution to the race came when, following their pit stops, he momentarily delayed Norris and Leclerc, so aiding Verstappen.
Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin, and Yuki Tsunoda finished eighth for RB.
Verstappen’s victory gave him a 48-point advantage over Leclerc in the standings, as the latter passed Perez to take second place.
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