F1 news LIVE: Christian Horner sends dig McLaren’s way after Max Verstappen victory
Follow reaction after Verstappen’s brilliant win ahead of both McLarens in Emilia Romagna
Max Verstappen’s brilliant opening-corner move on Oscar Piastri fired him to victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Dutchman clinched a fourth successive win at Imola in Red Bull’s 400th race to end championship leader Piastri’s three-race winning run after taking the lead at the first chicane.
Verstappen was in control of the race but had to see off a late challenge, after a safety car slashed his lead, to clinch his second win of the season.
McLaren opted not to order Piastri to allow Lando Norris past in a bid to challenge Verstappen but the British driver ultimately made a brave move on his team-mate with five laps to go to finish second. Piastri’s lead to Norris was cut to 13 points, with Verstappen now 22 points behind the Australian.
Follow live updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent
Lewis Hamilton in honest self-reflection in media day on Thursday:
One top-five finish, seventh in the championship - it’s not been the start to the season desired for Lewis Hamilton.
"I anticipated it would be very tough, because I've joined a team before,” Hamilton said, referencing his move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, in his session with the written press at Imola on Thursday.
"I came in with a really open mind. I didn't know how tough it was going to be. I knew it was going to be challenging.
“It's as challenging as it could ever be. On all fronts."
George Russell after qualifying P3:
“We were going for it, we thought the medium tyre would be a fast one - a good choice. A small compromise for tomorrow but worth it to be in the top-three.
“It was very challenging, really happy with P3 - couldn’t have achieved much more today. We want to get back on the podium tomorrow.”
Max Verstappen's reaction when seeing Yuki Tsunoda's crash:
Verstappen: “Jesus, is he really OK?”
Charles Leclerc after qualifying P11:
“You can always do a bit more with a lap, but we are just nowhere at the moment,” Leclerc said.
“There’s not enough performance in the car, I keep repeating myself. We need to be better.
“Very hard [for the race], I can fight as much as I want but I cannot do miracles. This is what there is in the car, I’m trying to extract the maximum out of it.”
Lando Norris admits he's making too many mistakes
After finishing P4 in qualifying, Norris said: "I made a lot of mistakes, it is just never good enough in my final lap in qualifying," Norris said.
"Everyone always goes quicker, and I go slower, so it is just not good enough. [There is nothing wrong] with the car, it is on pole and the best car on track.
"I am not just going to blame the car, it is on me. I've felt good all weekend, I felt good in Q1 and Q2, and I felt like there was lap time available.
"But when I try to go for the lap time, it just doesn't go. A lot of things have changed from last year, and in my whole career, qualifying has been my biggest strength by a long way.
"But this year, it is just not coming my way, and I think we understand the reasons why, but of course, I am not going to be the happiest about it, because I want to be fighting for pole, and things are not going the way they should.”
FULL STARTING GRID:
2. Max Verstappen
3. George Russell
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Carlos Sainz
7. Alex Albon
8. Lance Stroll
9. Isack Hadjar
10. Pierre Gasly
11. Charles Leclerc
12. Lewis Hamilton
13. Kimi Antonelli
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Liam Lawson
16. Franco Colapinto*
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Ollie Bearman
20. Yuki Tsunoda
*Franco Colapinto received a one-place grid penalty for an infringement in qualifying
NEW: Franco Colapinto penalised!
Prior to his crash, we thought Colapinto entered the fast lane too early - and we were right!
A one-place grid drop - Colapinto will start 16th on the grid on Sunday.
Liam Lawson is promoted to 15th.
When is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?
Time BST
- Race: 2pm
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying 12th:
“Tough one, tough one,” said Hamilton, who has only managed one top-five finish in the first six races of the season.
“Ultimately, I feel super gutted, devastated, that we weren’t able to get through. I really feel we’ve made many positive steps over the weekend.
“When we put the new tyres on, we didn’t have any more grip, couldn’t go any faster, everyone else managed to switch on the tyres.
“To be in front of the Italian fans, first time for Ferrari, to not manage to get to Q3 is bittersweet.”
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