Verstappen pounces on first lap to win at Imola farewell

Brake too early at your peril. That’s the thought pole-sitter Oscar Piastri will have taken to Bologna airport last night, after seeing 10 points pass him by in his Formula One title hunt.

- KIERAN JACKSON

The clear favourite to romp home to victory in the speedy McLaren, the championship leader endured a tough lesson in first-lap combat under the stunning Imola sunshine. Unambiguously, you do not leave a Red Bull-sized gap down the outside for a four-time world champion.

For the race winner, no sign of father time here, a fortnight on from Max Verstappen becoming a dad for the first time. The Dutchman secured his second win of the season – his 65th overall in Red Bull’s 400th grand prix – with a terrific first-lap overtake, holding out at the end in an entertaining first European race of 2025.

It gave a striking reminder to McLaren of Verstappen’s quality; armed no longer with the fastest car, he is still able to eke out the maximum from what teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s crash on Saturday proves is a temperamental car. But when he finds the sweet spot, he remains the man to beat. Turns out, it may be a three-horse race for the title.

Lando Norris, starting in fourth, came home in second to narrow the gap to teammate Piastri in the standings to 13 points, benefiting from a late safety car and keeping it clean on an inevitable overtake on his teammate. Verstappen is now just nine points behind the Brit in third.