HARD-EARNED WIN FOR MAX

Verstappen pushes flat out’ to hold off Norris at Imola for fifth victory of season

IMOLA Three-time world champion and Formula One leader Max Verstappen returned to winning ways on May 19, when he resisted a late charge by Lando Norris to take a dramatic victory for Red Bull at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

After being beaten in Miami, where friend and rival Norris claimed his maiden victory for McLaren, the 26-year-old Dutchman resisted him to come home 0.725 seconds ahead of the Briton, who mounted a rousing final attack in vain.

Said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner: "Massive pressure. A great, great job by Max to withstand that pressure. It was a race of two halves for us. The first half was very strong, but the second half of that last stint, Lando started to catch us very quickly.

"The cars are converging after the latest upgrades, they are looking very similar. McLaren were very quick at this circuit and Ferrari as well." Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Sergio Perez was eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and RB's Yuki Tsunoda in his team's home event.