F1 Imola GP 2024 LIVE: Race results, times and updates as Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris
Verstappen wins from pole at the Emilia Romagna GP despite Norris’ late surge for the win
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Max Verstappen saw off McLaren’s challenge to match Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
At the Imola venue which claimed Senna’s life 30 years ago, Verstappen’s drew level with the great Brazilian.
Oscar Piastri took second for McLaren – just 0.074 seconds behind Verstappen – with Lando Norris, who broke his duck in Miami a fortnight ago, only 0.091 sec adrift. However, Piastri was dropped three places for Sunday’s grid after blocking Haas’s Kevin Magnussen in Q1.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari, with George Russell sixth – half-a-second behind – and two places ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Follow latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent
Max Verstappen after his victory:
“The whole race I had to push. The hard tyres were difficult, the last 10-15 laps I had no grip and I saw Lando closing in, it was flat out! Very difficult when the tyres weren’t working anymore. Super happy to win today!
“We changed a lot on the car. We can be incredibly pleased with the pole and the win!”
TOP-10 IN THE EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX:
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Carlos Sainz
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. George Russell (fastest lap)
8. Sergio Perez
9. Lance Stroll
10. Yuki Tsunoda
Lando Norris on team radio:
“Unlucky. Almost! We lost too much in the beginning but another amazing weekend, well done everybody. Let’s keep it up!”
“One or two more laps! It’s frustrating not to win, it’s more painful now!”
Max Verstappen after winning from pole:
“F*** mate! I had to work for that. We did a great race considering how the weekend started, had to work hard for that.”
Max Verstappen wins the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix!
So close for Lando Norris, but it’s Max Verstappen’s victory in Imola! In the end, Norris finished just 0.7 seconds behind the Red Bull!
Charles Leclerc finishes third, for a podium finish for Ferrari!
4-10: Piastri, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Perez, Stroll, Tsunoda
Max Verstappen leads by one second before the final lap (Lap 63/63)
Norris so close to getting DRS, but not quite!
Final lap!
Max Verstappen on team radio (Lap 62/63)
“Battery is almost empty.”
It’s been tough for Red Bull - but he looks alright now. 1.2 seconds is the gap, but just two laps left...
Max Verstappen keeping Lando Norris behind him (Lap 60/63)
Just when he needs to, Max is finding some pace!
1.8 seconds is now the gap, with Verstappen going slightly quicker in the last lap or two.
Think Norris’ tyres are dropping off now...
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Perez, Stroll, Tsunoda
Norris reeling in Verstappen (Lap 58/63)
“I’m pushing as much as I can mate thank you!” Norris says, with his engineer saying he can push more at turn 9!
It’s now 1.5 seconds. Norris very much pushing to the limit around Imola right now!
Can he somehow get a second race win?!
Lando Norris cuts gap to Max Verstappen (Lap 56/63)
Wow, wow, wow. Norris is carving this Verstappen lead - it’s now just two seconds!
Can Lando win this?! The pace he has found has been incredible!
Seven laps to go...
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