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
Ferrari legend Jean Alesi, on rumours this will be the last race at Imola:
There is a lot of rumours, important to understand the drivers - they love this place.
“Hopefully it'll continue.”
McLaren boss Zak Brown:
“Oscar is very prepared, he’s got his gameplan, so does Lando - I think it’ll be a great race, I like our chances.
“I think it’s a one-stop race, but we’ll have to see - we’re prepared for both.”
Piastri P1; Norris P4.
Imola GP preview: Meet the brain behind McLaren’s F1 rocketship – with rivals playing catch-up in Imola
On a weekend where fanatical home supporters will bask under the Imola sunshine on the hills surrounding this gloriously old-school circuit, desperate to see their beloved Ferrari outfit turn a corner, it is in fact an Italian donning papaya who is brimming with glee amid his team’s current dominance of Formula One.
Andrea Stella, the ex-Ferrari engineer now thriving in his role as McLaren team principal, is usually talkative. A deeply respected presence in the paddock, the 54-year-old is candid and uninhibited in his analysis and opinions. Friday’s FIA press conference was no different.
Full preview below:
Meet the brain behind McLaren’s F1 rocketship – with rivals playing catch-up in Imola
State of play in the drivers' championship heading into this race!
4. George Russell – 93 points
5. Charles Leclerc – 53 points
6. Kimi Antonelli – 48 points
8. Alex Albon – 30 points
9. Esteban Ocon – 14 points
10. Lance Stroll – 14 points
12. Pierre Gasly – 7 points
13. Carlos Sainz – 7 points
14. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
15. Ollie Bearman – 6 points
16. Isack Hadjar – 5 points
17. Fernando Alonso – 0 points
18. Liam Lawson – 0 points
19. Jack Doohan – 0 points
20. Gabriel Bortoleto – 0 points
Drivers parade!
Here are some shots of the drivers' parade in Imola earlier!
Lando Norris steps away from social media
“Yeah, I’ve not been on social media for a few weeks now,” Norris said at Imola.
“It’s just not something I enjoy. I don’t need to, it’s my life, I can do what I like.
“I enjoy not going on my phone as much as I used to. I mean, I still use my phone and I am still texting my friends, all these things.
“But I just see social media, from my perspective, more of a waste of my time and energy and I just don’t need that, don’t want it.”
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ after Ferrari qualifying failure at Imola GP
Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “devastated” after suffering another blow in his first season at Ferrari, who suffered a new low in a captivating qualifying session at the Emilia Romagna GP.
Hamilton, who admitted this week he wasn’t expecting his first season at Ferrari to be so “tough”, and teammate Charles Leclerc missed the opportunity to fight for pole in Imola, with both drivers knocked out of contention in Q2.
The pair will start alongside each other on the grid for Sunday’s race, with Leclerc a place ahead in 11th and Hamilton in 12th.
Full report below:
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ after Ferrari qualifying failure at Imola GP
WATCH: Kimi Antonelli's reaction to Lewis Hamilton's message in Mercedes motorhome
When leaving Mercedes last season, Hamilton left a handwritten note for his replacement in the Mercedes motorhome.
At the first European race of the season, the 18-year-old read the private note for the first time!
Here's the state of play in the constructors' championship!
1. McLaren - 246 points
2. Mercedes - 141 points
3. Red Bull - 105 points
4. Ferrari - 94 points
5. Williams - 37 points
6. Haas - 20 points
7. Aston Martin - 14 points
8. Racing Bulls - 8 points
9. Alpine - 7 points
10. Sauber - 6 points
What is the 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
Pit lane. Yuki Tsunoda
*Franco Colapinto received a one-place grid penalty for an infringement in qualifying
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