Victory in Italy: Max Verstappen’s First Since Suzuka

Max Verstappen stormed back to the top of the podium with a commanding drive at the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, held at the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. After a thrilling start, strategic pit calls, and a late safety car that set up a dramatic sprint to the finish, Verstappen held off a resurgent Lando Norris to take his first victory since the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. The win also marked Verstappen’s fourth consecutive triumph at Imola, reaffirming his dominance on Italian soil.

A Weekend of Fine Margins

Qualifying saw McLaren’s Oscar Piastri take his second career pole position, edging out Verstappen by a razor-thin 0.034 seconds. The front row was completed by Mercedes’ George Russell in third and Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris in fourth. Further back, chaos and change unfolded as Alpine announced that rookie Jack Doohan would be demoted to reserve driver duties, replaced by Argentine driver Franco Colapinto.

Colapinto, making his Formula 1 debut, is a promising talent from Buenos Aires. Born in 2003, he rose through karting and junior formulas with multiple wins in Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula 3. His debut in Imola marked a significant milestone for Argentina, with fans hopeful he can follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Carlos Reutemann.

Elsewhere, drama struck Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda during qualifying. A crash late in the session left his car heavily damaged, forcing him to start the race from the pit lane.

Lights Out: Verstappen Strikes Early

When the lights went out on Sunday, Verstappen wasted no time overtaking Piastri into Turn 2, seizing the race lead. From that point forward, he would not relinquish control. While Verstappen surged ahead, Pierre Gasly was forced off-track on Lap 3, and Colapinto endured a tough start, sliding off on Lap 9.

This year’s race was expected to be a two-stop strategy, frustrating some teams but thrilling fans eager for more overtakes. By Lap 24, Verstappen had built a commanding nine-second lead over the field.

That advantage grew until Lap 29, when Esteban Ocon veered off into the grass, prompting a Virtual Safety Car (VSC). The timing couldn’t have been better for Verstappen, who dove into the pits under the VSC and preserved his lead with minimal time loss.

Home Heartbreak for Antonelli

The race took a dramatic turn on Lap 46 when local favorite Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered a mechanical failure. The rookie, nicknamed the “Boy from Bologna,” was forced to retire—his first career DNF—bringing out the full Safety Car. The Imola crowd was left heartbroken as one of Italy’s rising stars saw his race end prematurely.

The Safety Car reset the race, shrinking Verstappen’s lead from over 18 seconds to just one second as the field bunched up. On Lap 54, the race resumed, creating a 10-lap shootout to the finish. Norris, running second, pressed hard to close the gap, but Verstappen’s racecraft and tire management proved too much.

Final Results: Top 10

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
5. Alexander Albon (Williams)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. George Russell (Mercedes)
8. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)

Championship Picture

With the win, Verstappen moves into first place in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 131 points, narrowly ahead of Piastri and Norris. Here’s how the top 10 stack up:

Drivers’ Standings (Top 10):

1. Oscar Piastri – 146 pts
2. Lando Norris – 133 pts
3. Max Verstappen – 124 pts
4. George Russell – 99 pts
5. Charles Leclerc – 61 pts
6. Lewis Hamilton – 53 pts
7. Kimi Antonelli – 48 pts
8. Alexander Albon – 40 pts
9. Esteban Ocon – 14 pts
10. Lance Stroll – 14 pts

Constructors’ Standings:

1. McLaren Mercedes – 279 pts
2. Mercedes – 147 pts
3. Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT – 131 pts
4. Ferrari – 114 pts
5. Williams Mercedes – 51 pts
6. Haas Ferrari – 20 pts
7. Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes – 14 pts
8. Racing Bulls Honda RBPT – 10 pts
9. Alpine Renault – 7 pts
10. Kick Sauber Ferrari – 6 pts

Looking Ahead to Monaco

Next on the calendar is the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. All eyes will be on Charles Leclerc, who will look to defend his 2024 win on the streets of Monte Carlo. As the title race heats up, Monaco could prove pivotal for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings.

For Verstappen, victory at Imola was a strong statement: Red Bull may be behind in the Constructors’ fight, but the reigning champion isn’t backing down anytime soon.

Stay tuned to Elevated Media for more coverage as we head into another iconic F1 weekend.