Max Verstappen wins the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix for the fourth time in a row

Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has won the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix for the fourth time in a row. The Dutch driver won what could be the last Formula 1 event at the racing circuit in Imola.

This was Verstappen's second victory this season. The McLaren team duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third.

Red Bull’s Verstappen said he finds it highly unlikely that he will be able to win a fifth consecutive title against the McLaren team. His performance in Imola showed that his victory in Japan at the beginning of April was no exception.

This season’s number 1 car driver showed at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari that he can compete with McLaren in terms of speed, but also that his tires did not succumb to the heat.

Verstappen started from second place behind Piastri, but quickly managed to overtake the his rival, who is in first on the standings. Verstappen took the lead and did not relinquish it. Even the deployment of a safety car, which eliminated the differences between the two, could not prevent him from winning.

And thus what was likely the last GP at Emilia-Romagna did not turn into an Italian celebration. The Imola circuit will probably make way for Madrid in 2026.

Although a record was broken with 242,000 spectators during the race weekend, the Ferrari fans had nothing to positive to toast at the end of Sunday. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, Charles Leclerc sixth and Kimi Antonelli retired on the 46th lap.

Before the race, a crowd clad in red enthusiastically cheered the drivers from Ferrari, and the youngest from Mercedes. Leclerc, Hamilton and Antonelli waved to the fans, knowing that it would be difficult to achieve success.

They had been pushed aside too early for that during qualifying. With a starting position of 11th, 12th and 13th respectively, Leclerc, Hamilton and Antonelli had little chance for a podium finish, although Hamilton came close.

Ferrari last produced a world champion in 2007 when Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen took the title.