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
TOP-10 AT END OF SAFETY CAR PERIOD
Verstappen; Piastri; Norris; Leclerc; Albon; Russell; Hamilton; Sainz; Hadjar; Hulkenberg
Norris asking to overtake Piastri! (Lap 50/63)
Norris says over team radio that McLaren should let him by in second place given his fresher tyres...
Charles Leclerc, in fourth:
“I’m not being pessmistic but these tyres are going to be incredibly difficult to restart.”
TOP-10 AT END OF SAFETY CAR PERIOD
Verstappen; Piastri; Norris; Leclerc; Albon; Russell; Hamilton; Sainz; Hadjar; Hulkenberg
But Verstappen’s massive lead has now gone!
Max Verstappen pits! (Lap 47/63)
Verstappen has a free pit-stop, 2.1 seconds, and stays in front.
Norris heads in but Piastri stays out!
Piastri takes P2 with Norris in P3 but on fresher tyres.
Leclerc is told he can’t come in to pit as they don’t have a tyre which will take them to the end...
Antonenlli has an issue!
The teenager has stopped a the side of the track - and it’s a full safety car!
Antonelli: “I’ve got an issue.”
Will this change things at all?
Oscar Piastri passes Alex Albon for P3! (Lap 40/63)
Inevitable.
Dreams of an Alex Albon podium slip away as Oscar Piastri comfortably gets the move done at the end of the main straight!
Piastri back into the top-3 - but is 13 seconds behind his teammate Norris.
Hamilton passes Hadjar! (Lap 36/63)
Hamilton gets another pass done, this time on Hadjar, at the first chicane!
Engineer: “P5, great job.”
Hamilton: “Yeah I had to use a lot of tyres to get past those two.”
Lewis Hamilton up to P6! (Lap 35/63)
Hamilton surges down the outside of the first chicane to pass home hero Antonelli and take sixth place!
At the front, Verstappen’s lead to Norris has gone down slightly to 18 seconds...
Oscar Piastri pits too (Lap 31/63)
Oh wow, Piastri is coming in for his second pit-stop too!
He drops from second to fourth.
Green flag conditions again - and Verstappen has a 21-second lead to Norris!
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Albon, Piastri, Hadjar, Antonelli, Hamilton, Alonso, Stroll, Leclerc
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