Race Notes - Verstappen wins fourth straight Imola GP

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen in his Red Bull-Honda started the race in second place, but passes pole sitterOscar Piastri into the first corner, and never looked back.

Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes finished second, 6.109. behind, and his team mate Oscar Piastri finished third 12.956 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Verstappen’s fourth consecutive win at the Imola circuit, and second win of the season, and his 65 career victory.

Lewis Hamilton (14.356s) in the Ferrari finished in fourth place, followed by Alex Albon (17.945s) in the Williams-Mercedes was fifth, Charles Leclerc (20.774s) in the second Ferrari was sixth, George Russell ( 22.034s) in the Mercedes GP was seventh, Carlos Sainz (22.898s) in the second Williams was eighth, Isack Hadjar (23.586s) in the Racing Bull-Honda was ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda (26.446s) in the second Red Bull took the final point in tenth.

Before the start Piastri is on pole with Verstappen alongside, Russell and Norris on row 2, Alonso and Sainz on row 3, Albon and Stroll on row 4, and Hadjar and Gasly rounding out the top ten. Leclerc and Hamilton in 11th and 12th. The top 11 starting on medium tyres, Hamilton in 12th and Antonelli in 13th starting on hard tyres.

At the appointed time the cars took to the formation lap, the cars lined up on the grid - the lights went off and the race began with Piastri gets off the line well, but Verstappen passes for the lead in the first corner, followed by Piastri, Russell, Norris, Alonso, Sainz, Albon, Stroll, Gasly and Leclerc in 10th, Hadjar in 11th, Antonelli and Hamilton in 13th.

On lap 3 Leclerc comes down the inside of Gasly, and Gasly goes off the outside in the gravel and rejoins 14th.

On lap 8 Colapinto goes wide but continues.

At lap 10 Verstappen leads Piastri, Russell, Alonso, Sainz, Albon, Stroll, Leclerc, and Hadjar in tenth.

On lap 11 Norris passes Russell for third. The next lap Russell, Sainz and Leclerc pit for hard tyres. Leclerc jumps ahead of Russell. Alonso pits the next lap.

On lap 14 Piastri pits from second, and rejoins 12th.

Verstappen leads Norris and Albon.

Piastri runs in 13tth, behind Tsunoda.

On lap 18 Piastri passes Tsunoda for tenth. Piastri is struggling to make his way through traffic after the pitting.

Piastri passes Colapinto for eighth.

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Norris, Albon, Hadjar, Antonelli, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Piastri, Colapinto, and Bearman in tenth. Leclerc 11th, Tsunoda, Russell, Sainz and Alonso.

On lap 23 Leclerc passes Tsunoda and then Bearman for ninth. Piastri passes Hulkenberg for seventh.

On lap 26 Russell passes Tsunoda for 11th. Piastri passes Hamilton for sixth.

On lap 27 Piastri passes Antonelli for fifth.

On lap 28 Piastri passes Hadjar for fourth.

On lap 29 Norris pits from second and rejoins seventh. Ocon pulls off the track, and the virtual safety car is out.

On lap 30 Verstappen pits and rejoins still in the lead.

Albon, Hadjar, Antonelli and Hamilton pit. Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Russell, Tsunoda, Sainz, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Lawson and Bortoleto all pit as well.

On lap 30 the order is Verstappen ahead by 21 seconds, Piastri, Norris, Albon, Hadjar, Antonelli. Hamilton, Alonso, Stroll, Leclerc tenth, Hulkenberg, Russell, Bearman, Tsunoda, Sainz, Colapinto, Gasly, Lawson and Bortoleto 19th.

On lap 31 Piastri pits for another set of hard tyres and rejoins fourth, losing two positions, as the virtual safety car is off and the race resumes.

On lap 32 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m20.330s.

On lap 33 Russell passes Hulkenberg for 11th. Sainz passes Tsunoda for for 13th.

On lap 34 Hamilton passes Antonelli for sixth place.

On lap 36 Hamilton passes Hadjar for fifth.

Russell passes Alonso for ninth.

On lap 38 Leclerc passes Antonelli for seventh.

Piastri is closing on Albon.

On lap 40 Hulkenberg passes Alonso for tenth.

Piastri passes Alboin for third place.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Norris by 18.3 seconds, followed by Piastri another 12.9 seconds back, then followed by Albon, Hamilton, Hadjar, Leclerc, Antonelli, Russell, and Hulkenberg in tenth place.

On lap 41 Leclerc passes Hadjar for sixth.

On lap 43 Sainz passes Hulkenberg for tenth.

Alonso complains that he is the unluckiest driver in the world, as the two Aston Martin’s did not pit during the Virtual Safety car and they are falling back in the field.

On lap 44 Colapinto lets Galy through to 15th.

Leclerc is 1.4 seconds behind Hamilton.

On lap 45 Antonelli pull off the track with a mechanical problem. A full safety car is out.

Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, Hadjar, Alonso, Stroll and Colapinto all pits

On the next lap Albon pits.

Leclerc radioed the team wanting to change tyres, but the team replied that he did not have tyres to last the 17 laps to the finish.

Behind the Safety Car the order is Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Albon, Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Hadjar, Hulkenberg tenth, Tsunoda, Gasly, Lawson, Alonso, Stroll, Colapinto, Bortoleto and Bearman in 18th.

At the end of lap 53 the saftey car pulls in and Verstappen resumes in the lead.

On lap 54 Tsunoda gets past Hulkenberg for tenth place.

Albon is on the tail of Leclerc.

On lap 56 Norris follows Piastri by 0.5 seconds.

Hamilton closes on Russe;; in sixth.

On lap 57 Hamilton passes Russell for sixth place.

On lap 58 Norris gets by Piastri in DRS to take second place.

Leclerc, Albon and Hamilton close for fourth.

On lap 60 Albon makes a run on Leclerc in DRS Albon going to the outside, the two go side by side into the first corner, Albon going wide into the gravel, gets back on track, Leclerc stays ahead, and Hamilton passes Albon for fifth.

On lap 61 Hamilton on fresher tyres motors past Leclerc under DRS and takes fourth.

On lap 62 Leclerc with no rear grip has Albon all over him.

On lap 63 because Leclerc is under investigation for the incident a few laps earlier with Albon Ferrari tells Leclerc to let him by. Albon passes him on the straight to take fifth place.

Verstappen crosses the line to win over Norris and Piastri.