Lewis Hamilton launches stellar comeback as McLaren b...

Lewis Hamilton launches stellar comeback as McLaren b…read more

Max Verstappen shattered McLaren’s early-season momentum with an emphatic victory at a roller-coaster Imola Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton authored a stirring fight-back to finish just shy of the podium.

Qualifying had hinted at a difficult weekend for Hamilton and home-favourite Charles Leclerc: both Ferrari drivers missed out on Q3, lining up in the midfield. Yet the seven-time champion refused to accept another low-points haul. From lights-out he sliced through traffic, and when the chequered flag fell he was an elated fourth—his highest finish of 2025 so far and a result he dedicated to the tifosi massed around the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

Up front, Verstappen’s afternoon began with a statement of intent. Rocketing past pole-sitter Oscar Piastri at Tamburello on Lap 1, the Red Bull ace controlled the opening stint. McLaren tried to counter with an aggressive undercut, calling Piastri in early. A fumbled right-rear tyre cost the Australian several seconds; by the time Verstappen completed his own stop, the four-time champion’s advantage remained intact.

McLaren’s problems were soon compounded. Esteban Ocon coasted to a halt in his Haas, triggering a Virtual Safety Car that fell perfectly for Verstappen, who had yet to pit. Able to change tyres at reduced speed, he emerged with a cushion that ballooned to 18 seconds by Lap 45. Victory looked inevitable—until fate intervened again.

Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes quit on the exit of Villeneuve, forcing race control to deploy a full Safety Car with 17 tours remaining. Verstappen’s hard-won gap vanished. Behind him, Lando Norris—quietly matching his team-mate’s pace all afternoon—smelled an opening, while Hamilton, Alex Albon and Leclerc jostled for the minor places.

At the Lap 50 restart Verstappen was ice-cool, launching early and avoiding the McLaren skirmish behind. Norris and Piastri, intent on settling their own duel, lost critical momentum and freed the Dutchman to escape once more. He duly stretched five seconds clear and crossed the line to claim his third win of the campaign.

The closing laps supplied much of the drama Hamilton had promised. Running ninth with ten to go, he dispatched Albon at Rivazza, then pounced on Leclerc—his own team-mate—into Tamburello to seize fourth. Ferrari’s grandstands erupted at the sight of their new signing surging forward on home soil.

Elsewhere the race produced its share of pyrotechnics. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin departed the pits wreathed in smoke as overheated brakes ignited the front-left wheel. Marshals braced for retirement, but the evergreen Spaniard coaxed the car back under control and salvaged 11th. Further back, Williams celebrated a double-points day: Albon’s early heroics netted fifth, while Carlos Sainz, adapting impressively after his winter switch, secured eighth.

When the dust settled the top ten read: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Albon, Leclerc, George Russell, Sainz, rookie Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda. Kick Sauber’s Franco Colapinto, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Haas freshman Ollie Bearman filled the midfield places, while Antonelli and Ocon registered the afternoon’s sole retirements.

For Verstappen, Imola reinforced Red Bull’s knack for seizing opportunities—even on weekends where outright pace looks matched. For McLaren it was a reminder that execution, not just speed, decides championships. And for Lewis Hamilton, whose early season had been mired in misfortune, Italy provided a timely proof that the fire still burns brightly in scarlet overalls.