Verstappen's Imola victory ignites three-way race of old

Tight battles of the past

- Sandip Sikdar

NEW DELHI: Race winner Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri clinked their champagne bottles, took sips of the bubbly and posed for the customary podium photo, smiling ear-to-ear.

For once this season, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix turned out to be positive for all three drivers. Verstappen, the Dutch reigning world champion, claimed his second win of the season and fourth successive at Imola, to stay in the championship fight.

Finishing second, Norris finally managed to get a better result than McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in four races.

Unlucky due to the virtual safety car and then the safety car, Australian Piastri managed to overcome the setbacks to fight through the field and take the final step of the podium to stay atop the drivers' championship standings.

The 2025 Formula 1 season is fast turning into a three-horse race, much to the delight of fans. McLaren undoubtedly have the fastest car which helped Norris lead the championship for the first four races. But four wins, including three consecutive, have helped Piastri snatch the championship lead.