First-corner move set Max up for win

MAX Verstappen’s brilliant opening-corner move on Oscar Piastri fired him to victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

- BY SCOTT HUNT, PA

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.

Ferrari recovered from a dismal qualifying - starting 11th and 12th - with Lewis Hamilton fourth in his first home race for the Scuderia and Charles Leclerc sixth.