F1 News Today: Hamilton drama in Imola as F1 star hit by 20-place

F1 News Today: Hamilton drama in Imola as F1 star hit by 20-place demotion verdict

McLaren’s dominance was toppled by Max Verstappen at the Imola Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton launched a stellar comeback having before suffered a disappointing weekend in Italy.
Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed to make it into Q3 during qualifying, but the seven-time world champion battled his way back into the top 10 and beat his team-mate to claim P4 – his best grand prix result of the year.

During the final 10 laps of the race, Hamilton launched a huge comeback to overtake Alex Albon and Leclerc as he dedicated his result to the tifosi who had gathered in Imola.
Verstappen snatched the lead from Oscar Piastri with a late brake overtake at Tamburello on Lap 1, and looked set to clinch the race victory from there.

Piastri and McLaren attempted the undercut on Verstappen during the first round of pit stops, but a slow stop cost the Australian in his fight with the four-time world champion.
McLaren’s woes continued when Esteban Ocon parked his Haas on the grass, which prompted a virtual safety car and the slowed down field – playing out perfectly for Verstappen. The Dutchman had not stopped yet and in doing so under VSC conditions, maintained his lead ahead of Piastri and Lando Norris, building a staggering 18 second gap by Lap 45.

However, the Imola GP delivered another twist when Kimi Antonelli brought out a full safety car on Lap 46, after he stopped on the grass and reported an engine issue at Turn 7. Verstappen’s huge lead was wiped out as the field bunched up behind the safety car, and they readied themselves for a 10-lap sprint shootout at the end of the race. However, the champion remained composed and maintained his lead on the restart, pulling out a huge advantage as the McLarens squabbled behind him, helping Verstappen romp to the victory.
Even Fernando Alonso felt the drama in Imola, and left the pits with his front left tyre ablaze after his brakes caught fire, but the Spaniard managed to continue in the race.
F1 Results: Imola Grand Prix 2025
Position Driver Team Time/Status
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:31:33.199
2 Lando Norris McLaren +6.109
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +12.956
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +14.356
5 Alex Albon Williams +17.945
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +20.774
7 George Russell Mercedes +22.034
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +22.898
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +23.586
10 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +26.446
11 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +27.250
12 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber +30.296
13 Pierre Gasly Alpine +31.424
14 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +32.511
15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +32.993
16 Franco Colapinto Alpine +33.411
17 Ollie Bearman Haas +33.808
18 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +38.572
DNF Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 44 laps
DNF Esteban Ocon Haas 27 laps
Who is the current F1 world champion?

Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.
2025 rule change removes fastest lap point

Fastest lap points have been banished for 2025. Since 2019, drivers have picked up an extra point if they finish in the top 10 and achieve the fastest lap. However, it did lead to some drivers abandoning their races to pit and fit a set of new tyres at the end in order to claim the fastest lap point, or to stop a rival from getting the extra point.
The most famous example of this in 2024 came during Daniel Ricciardo’s final F1 race, when the Australian finished last but claimed the fastest lap on the final lap of the Singapore GP, taking the extra point away from Lando Norris and helping Max Verstappen’s title bid.