Breaking:Hamilton Shines in Imola Thriller as Verstappen…read more
Max Verstappen clinched a dominant win at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton thrilled fans with a stunning drive to fourth in Imola. Get the full race recap, key moments, and top ten finishers.
Max Verstappen showcased his dominance once again at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix with a composed and calculated win, halting McLaren’s recent surge in form. But it was Lewis Hamilton who stole the spotlight with a thrilling drive from the midfield to fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium but winning the hearts of fans in the iconic red-clad grandstands of Imola.
The weekend didn’t begin promisingly for Hamilton or local favorite Charles Leclerc. Both drivers were surprisingly knocked out in Q2, starting from the fifth row. Despite this setback, Hamilton remained determined to put on a show for the passionate tifosi. When the race got underway at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, he began slicing through the field with precision and aggression, capitalizing on every slip-up. His charge ended with an elated fourth-place finish, saluting the crowd that had backed him throughout the weekend.
Up front, Verstappen wasted no time asserting control. Starting second, he overtook polesitter Oscar Piastri through the first chicane and never looked back. McLaren’s early strategy gamble saw Piastri pit on lap 14 in an attempt to undercut the Red Bull. Unfortunately, a stubborn right-rear wheel cost valuable time. When Verstappen responded with his own stop three laps later, he re-emerged comfortably ahead.
The race turned in Red Bull’s favor once more when Esteban Ocon’s Haas came to a stop, prompting a Virtual Safety Car. Verstappen, yet to complete a second stop, capitalized perfectly, pitting while the field slowed and extending his lead to 18 seconds by lap 45.
However, with 17 laps to go, the race took another twist. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli suffered a power-unit failure near Villeneuve, scattering debris and bringing out the full Safety Car. Verstappen’s sizable lead vanished, and the McLaren pair of Norris and Piastri suddenly had a chance to strike.
At the restart on lap 50, Verstappen was flawless. He launched out of Variante Bassa, catching his challengers off-guard. While Norris and Piastri fought each other for second, Verstappen pulled away, opening a five-second gap in just a few laps to secure his third win of the 2025 season.
Hamilton’s late-race charge provided the day’s biggest thrill. Sitting ninth with ten laps left, he executed bold overtakes on Alex Albon and then Leclerc, surging into fourth. His move on Leclerc at Tamburello brought the grandstands to life, as Ferrari’s newest recruit delivered a stirring performance in his first Imola outing with the team.
The race offered plenty of drama elsewhere. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin suffered brake issues and briefly caught fire, though he managed to limp to 11th. Williams celebrated a strong result with Albon finishing fifth and Carlos Sainz securing eighth in his first season with the team. Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar impressed with a solid ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda grabbed the final point.
The final top ten order was: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Albon, Leclerc, Russell, Sainz, Hadjar, and Tsunoda. Retirements included Antonelli and Ocon.
Imola proved Red Bull’s strategic brilliance, exposed McLaren’s need for sharper pit work, and reminded the world that at 40, Lewis Hamilton remains a fierce competitor—especially with the roar of Ferrari fans behind him.
