Max Verstappen conquers one of the toughest races of his life, but he has to fight for it until the last corner. At Imola, McLaren sends a message to Red Bull: the era of absolute dominance is over. Lando Norris arrives in the exhaust pipes of the three-time world champion, after a recovery of about fifteen laps that brought him closer to the Dutchman, sector by sector, cutting several seconds off his lead. Adding to Verstappen’s challenges, besides the different performance of the hard tires that worked much better for McLaren than for Red Bull, was also the warning flag shown to him after just over twenty laps: the Dutchman had to race about forty laps being careful not to exceed track limits, which would have resulted in a 5-second penalty. Norris did not manage to repeat his first Miami victory, but his relentless pursuit of the dominant force of recent years kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Charles Leclerc defended Ferrari’s pride by holding onto the third position from the start. After the pit stop, the Monegasque tried to pressure Lando Norris, until a small mistake and especially the Briton’s change of pace pushed the McLaren out of Leclerc’s reach. Behind them, the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who, in the pit stop dance (the top 5 drivers made only one stop), swapped positions with Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari who finished fifth.
Formula 1 GP of Italy – Qualify
Then came the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, followed by the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez who remained in the shadows throughout the weekend. Ninth was Lance Stroll for Aston Martin, and the Faenza-based team, Alpha Tauri, also scored points thanks to Yuki Tsunoda. This concludes a bittersweet weekend for the Maranello team: below expectations based on what was seen in the free practice sessions dominated by Leclerc on Friday, but for the Prancing Horse, it is a return to the Imola podium eighteen years after Michael Schumacher’s triumph in 2006. The fans showed their appreciation by rushing onto the track after the race, trying to secure the best spot at the foot of the podium. The collective embrace with Ferrari continued even after the race, as hundreds of fans were still waiting outside the press conference room at 6 pm for a chance to get an autograph from Leclerc.
Formula 1 GP of Italy – Qualify
The last image of a weekend that brought over 200,000 spectators to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit. For Formula 1, the Imola race seems to mark a turning point. It has been a long time since Verstappen had to push this hard to win a Grand Prix, and the margin, 7 tenths, was very slim for a race without a safety car. Leclerc himself finished just 7 seconds behind, still within reach of the top two. The pole position secured surprisingly by the Dutchman on Saturday, also thanks to the slipstream provided by Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, played a decisive role. For the three-time world champion, it is his 59th career victory and the third consecutive win at Imola, showcasing his special connection with the Romagnolo circuit. This special bond may have helped him withstand Norris’s relentless pursuit. On the other hand, Leclerc overtakes Perez to take second place in the overall standings. This demonstrates that Red Bull’s dominance is no longer undisputed: it relies on a phenomenon that has secured 7 pole positions out of 7, 5 wins out of 7 races, and both Sprint race victories this season. The fierce battle in Emilia-Romagna, the climax of a challenging weekend for the strongest team, follows their defeat in Miami: in short, the Circus breathes a new air.
Formula 1 GP of Italy – Qualify
The Tribute by Vettel, Racing in Senna’s Last McLaren
A touching moment at Imola, when the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel returned to the Formula 1 track. Not in any car, but in the McLaren MP4/8 that the Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna drove in the 1993 season before joining Williams. Vettel completed a few laps as part of the initiatives to honor the champion who tragically died thirty years ago in an accident at the Imola circuit, in a tragic weekend where Roland Ratzenberger also lost his life. The former Red Bull and Ferrari driver, donning a personalized helmet that merged the colors of Germany with those of Senna’s helmet livery, reminiscent of the Brazilian flag, stepped into the car. On Thursday, Vettel had organized a moment of remembrance for Senna and Ratzenberger, involving all his former colleagues in a run along the track.
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