Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win his fifth race of the season

Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix at the Emilia-Romagna circuit. The 26-year-old Red Bull driver started from pole position in Imola and drove away from his competitors. Verstappen was in trouble from the 50th lap as his lead on Lando Norris decreased sharply. The three-time world champion stayed just ahead of the British driver. Charles Leclerc finished third in his Ferrari.

It is Verstappen’s fifth win in seven matches. The Limburger saw Norris win the last race in Miami.

Norris thought he was nearly able to snatch the win at the end. “My tires don’t work,” Verstappen said to his team on the team radio 15 laps before the end. “My battery is almost empty,” he added with three laps left.

However, Verstappen was able to keep his lead on the circuit where it is hard to pass other drivers. Norris lost by just 0,7 seconds. “Fucking hell,” Verstappen added. “I had to work hard for this one. It was very close.”

It was Verstappen’s third win in a row at the Italian Grand Prix. The race was canceled last year due to floods and landslides in the country.

Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s Mexican teammate, finished eighth. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) finished fourth, ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and the British drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of Mercedes.

Verstappen increased his lead at the top and now has 161 points. Leclerc is second with 113 points. Perez has 107 points, with Norris following with 101 points.