Breaking: Hamilton Drama in Imola as F1 Driver hit by F…read more
Hamilton Drama in Imola as F1 Driver hit by F…read more
Max Verstappen halted McLaren’s promising run of form with a commanding triumph at a frantic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton thrilled the tifosi by charging from the midfield to a season-best fourth place that almost became a podium.
The weekend began ominously for Hamilton and local hero Charles Leclerc. Both Ferraris stumbled in qualifying, eliminated in Q2 and consigned to row-five grid spots. Undeterred, Hamilton vowed to give the partisan crowd something to cheer— and the seven-time champion delivered. When the lights blinked out he carved through slower traffic with trademark precision, exploiting every mistake ahead. By the flag he sat an elated fourth, pumping his fists toward the scarlet grandstands in appreciation of the support swirling around Imola’s historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
At the sharp end Verstappen laid down his marker immediately. From second on the grid he exploded past polesitter Oscar Piastri through Tamburello on the opening lap and never ceded track position again. McLaren attempted an early strategic strike, summoning Piastri on lap 14 for the undercut. A sticking right-rear wheel nut cost the Australian precious seconds, nullifying the gamble. When Verstappen stopped three tours later, his cushion remained comfortable.
The gods smiled on Red Bull moments afterward. Esteban Ocon’s Haas rolled to a standstill, prompting a Virtual Safety Car that arrived perfectly for Verstappen—he had yet to pit a second time. Able to change tyres while rivals crawled to delta, the Dutchman rejoined with what became an 18-second advantage by lap 45. The contest looked all but settled until drama struck again.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli suffered a power-unit failure exiting Villeneuve, scattering carbon fibre and necessitating a full Safety Car with 17 laps left. Verstappen’s hard-earned buffer evaporated, while behind him McLaren’s two young chargers sensed a lifeline. Lando Norris, matching Piastri’s tempo all afternoon, readied an attack, and the restart packed the stadium atmosphere with anticipation.
Yet Verstappen was immaculate. He launched at the Variante Bassa on lap 50, catching his pursuers napping as Norris and Piastri squabbled for second. Clean air restored, the four-time champion streaked five seconds clear in a handful of laps and cruised to his third win of 2025.
Hamilton provided the late fireworks he had promised. Running ninth with ten laps remaining, he dispatched Alex Albon under braking at Rivazza, then lunged decisively past Leclerc—his team-mate—into Tamburello to grab fourth. The Ferrari faithful erupted; the new recruit, clad in red for the first time at Imola, had reignited the grandstands.
Elsewhere the race brimmed with subplots. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin left pit-lane ablaze, front-left brakes erupting in flames. Marshals poised for retirement, but the wily Spaniard tamed the overheating and limped home 11th. Williams enjoyed a banner afternoon: Albon converted his early heroics into fifth, and the newly arrived Carlos Sainz collected eighth after adapting swiftly to his winter move. Further back, rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with ninth for Red Bull’s sister squad, while Yuki Tsunoda snagged the final point.
When the dust settled the top ten stood: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Albon, Leclerc, George Russell, Sainz, Hadjar and Tsunoda. Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly and Ollie Bearman headed the midfield, as Antonelli and Ocon marked the day’s only DNFs.
Imola thus underscored Red Bull’s knack for ruthless execution, reminded McLaren that pit-stop precision is championship currency, and—most memorably—proved that at 40, Lewis Hamilton’s competitive fire still blazes, especially when the grandstands glow Ferrari red.
