Verstappen Triumphs in Eventful Imola GP – Last Chance on Italian Tarmac?
Imola, May 18, 2025 — In what could be the last ever race at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Max Verstappen made history with his 65th Grand Prix victory, in Red Bull Racing’s 400th race. But it was anything but a simple drive: yellow flags, safety cars, tactical blunders and dramatic moments determined the course of a memorable afternoon in Emilia-Romagna. Start: Verstappen seizes early control At the start, Lando Norris and George Russell got off to a good start, but it was Max Verstappen who decisively took the lead from a surprisingly strong Oscar Piastri in turn 3. Charles Leclerc also gained a place, while Lewis Hamilton lost ground. Verstappen quickly started to pull away, while Piastri struggled to keep up with the pace of the Red Bull. Strategy: Early stop pays off (or not?) On lap 11, Leclerc decided to stop early for hard tyres – a bold choice that initially seemed to pay off. Thanks to the undercut, he jumped past Russell, Alonso, Sainz and Stroll. On the same lap...