Verstappen survives Norris to take victory in Italy

19th May 2024

World champion finishes only .7 of a second ahead making it the closest F1 finish in recent times

World champion Max Verstappen secured victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, surviving a late charge from Lando Norris. This victory comes a day after Verstappen equalled the late Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions, writes Damian Hall.

Verstappen struggled with his tyres in the closing stages of the race and had to fight to keep his Red Bull ahead of the fast-closing McLaren of Lando Norris.

“I had to work hard for that,” said a winded Verstappen over the team radio to his race engineer after crossing the finish line.

Norris finished second, just 0.725 seconds behind, keeping the Red Bull honest. Just two weekends after his breakthrough victory at the Miami GP, the newest GP winner was disappointed not to taste victory here at Imola.

“One or two laps more, and I would have had him,” Norris said in a post-race interview. “After last weekend, this is what we should begin to expect.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished comfortably in third, delivering the first podium at Imola for the team since 2006.

Sir Lewis Hamilton managed to finish sixth, one place ahead of teammate George Russell and two places ahead of where he started. The Mercedes still does not provide a competitive platform for the seven-time world champion to show his true form. Mercedes is currently fourth in the Constructors’ (Team) Championship.

#TheHALLOFF1 #F1NEWS #FORMULAONE #EMILIAROMAGNAGP #ITALY #MAXVERSTAPPEN #REDBULL #IMOLA #LANDONORRIS