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Max Verstappen holds off McLaren charge to win dramatic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix as Norris and Piastri complete podium

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
May 18, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Max Verstappen holds off McLaren charge to win dramatic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix as Norris and Piastri complete podium

Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 18, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix delivered a rollercoaster of strategy, overtakes, and tension-filled drama—but in the end, it was Max Verstappen who came out on top, taking a clinical victory at Imola ahead of the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Despite starting from P2, Verstappen wasted no time asserting dominance, executing a bold overtake on polesitter Piastri into Turn 2 on the opening lap. It was a move that would define the race, as the Dutchman never relinquished the lead from that point, even through multiple phases of pressure and race interruptions.

McLaren fights back, but Verstappen keeps cool

McLaren looked poised to challenge for victory with both drivers in contention. Norris, running a longer middle stint, passed George Russell early on and undercut several rivals, closing the gap to Verstappen late in the race. Meanwhile, Piastri, who had led the McLaren charge in qualifying, was hampered by tire degradation but managed to hold on for P3 after a fierce late-race defense.

A late safety car—triggered by Kimi Antonelli’s heartbreaking retirement at his home race—reset the field with just 10 laps to go. On the restart, Verstappen calmly controlled the pace, while Norris surged ahead of Piastri to secure second. Despite fresher tires, Norris couldn’t mount a successful attack on Verstappen, who claimed his second win of the 2025 season.

Ferrari heartbreak at home

The Tifosi had hoped for a miracle, but Ferrari once again fell short at their home Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton mounted respectable fights from outside the top 10, with Hamilton showing his trademark grit to overtake George Russell and Alex Albon, eventually finishing P4—just short of a podium. Leclerc, after briefly threatening Norris, was overtaken by both his teammate and Albon on the final lap, finishing P6.

Other key stories:

  • Isack Hadjar scored points once again, finishing P9 for VCARB in an impressive and consistent display.
  • Pierre Gasly had a frustrating afternoon, including a spin that dropped him down the order.
  • Esteban Ocon’s crash on lap 30 brought out a brief Virtual Safety Car, complicating strategies for Norris and others.
  • Alex Albon, after a strategic VSC stop, ran as high as third before fading late on but still salvaged a strong P5 for Williams.

Final Top 10 – Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix 2025:

  1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
  3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
  4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
  5. Alex Albon (Williams)
  6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
  7. George Russell (Mercedes)
  8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
  9. Isack Hadjar (VCARB)
  10. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)

Championship outlook

With this win, Verstappen strengthens his position in the title fight as the triple-header continues. McLaren’s consistent form with back-to-back podiums shows they’re serious contenders. Ferrari’s flashes of brilliance remain inconsistent, and Mercedes still seems to lack the edge in crucial moments.

Next stop: Monaco, where chaos reigns and the championship battle is set to heat up once again. But for now, it’s Verstappen’s victory, McLaren’s momentum, and Ferrari’s frustration in front of their home crowd at Imola. 🏁🇮🇹🔥

Tags: Max Verstappen
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