EMILIA ROMAGNA GP: VERSTAPPEN OUTSMARTS EVERYONE, FERRARI STILL A MYSTERY

The Imola Grand Prix was decided almost instantly—in the heat of the first braking zone. Oscar Piastri, flawless in qualifying, got off the line well from pole position. Beside him, George Russell had a strong launch and pulled alongside Max Verstappen, who hesitated just slightly in the opening meters. But it was in that split-second window that the Dutch champion’s poise made the difference. With Piastri on the inside easing off the throttle slightly to manage Russell, that was all Verstappen needed. Calculated and precise, he swept around the outside of both and emerged in front. A bold, clean move—pure masterclass.

It was a missed opportunity for Piastri. After that cautious braking, he never got another real shot at challenging the Red Bull. Compared to the struggles seen on Friday, the RB21 looked reborn: stable, quick, and—above all—balanced in tire management. Verstappen also got a bit of luck, which is always crucial in big races, making his pit stop right as the Virtual Safety Car came out to clear Ocon’s stranded Haas after the Tosa corner. While others had to slow down, Max rejoined the track still in the lead.

Piastri attempted an early undercut but got caught in traffic, having to rebuild his race with a series of overtakes. Without that VSC, perhaps the outcome could’ve been different. Perhaps.

Meanwhile, further up the road, Imola claimed another headline name: Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Just a few kilometers from the finish, the young Italian was forced to retire after a brave performance. The resulting safety car bunched the field up once again. But Verstappen, with fresher tires, immediately reasserted his dominance at the restart, leaving Piastri to fend off attacks from behind.

The Australian then battled his teammate Lando Norris in a hard but fair fight. In the end, McLaren locked out the second and third spots, solidifying their presence at the top of the standings. Piastri remains the championship leader with 146 points, followed by Norris at 133 and Verstappen climbing to 124.

Imola delivered drama especially in high-action zones like Tamburello and Villeneuve, where Norris pulled off a textbook pass on Russell. It was a firm response to recent criticism from parts of the British press who labeled the circuit outdated and dull. Yet with 240,000 fans over three days, a technically demanding layout, and thrilling races across all series, it’s hard to argue with the spectacle.

Sunday had a completely different feel from Ferrari’s gloomy Saturday. After a qualifying session to forget, the Scuderia showed signs of life, even if they’re still far from matching Red Bull and McLaren. Charles Leclerc finished sixth—hampered by bad timing during pit stops, especially under the VSC, and a conservative final strategy. The pace was there, but the details are still off. Why does Ferrari fall apart in qualifying but show speed in the race? The answer remains elusive.

One man who did find the key was Lewis Hamilton. Starting 12th, he climbed all the way to a brilliant fourth place, delivering a flawless drive in terms of pace, tire management, and strategy. His double overtake on Leclerc and Albon in the final laps was crucial. Hamilton also benefited from Leclerc’s smart decision to avoid a likely penalty for earlier contact with Albon by letting both the Mercedes and Williams drivers through.

Alexander Albon was one of the surprises of the day—claiming his third fifth-place finish of the season (after Melbourne and Miami), thanks to sharp strategy and perfect timing of the VSC. Carlos Sainz also scored points, finishing eighth, although his race was affected by pit stops made at less-than-ideal moments.

It wasn’t a day to remember for Mercedes. Russell, after a strong start, slipped back to seventh and never really found competitive pace. Antonelli, on an alternate strategy with hard tires, held off Hamilton in the opening phase but was forced to retire due to a technical failure.

One who did shine was Isack Hadjar—ninth with the Racing Bulls-Honda. A valuable result for both the driver and the Faenza-based team, scoring points just down the road from their headquarters. Yuki Tsunoda secured the final point of the day, redeeming himself at least partially after Saturday’s costly mistake.

After their brief spark in qualifying, Aston Martin fell back to old habits during the race. Alonso and Stroll gradually faded, both finishing outside the points. The much-anticipated update package brought to Imola didn’t deliver the breakthrough the team had hoped for. Nico Hulkenberg put in a gritty but low-key race to finish 12th for Sauber-Ferrari, while Pierre Gasly paid the price for a risky early move trying to hold off Leclerc at Piratella.

And Franco Colapinto? The returning driver delivered a steady, if unspectacular, race—drawing comparisons to Jack Doohan in his approach. What Flavio Briatore, the ever-controversial new team principal, makes of it all remains to be seen—especially among the ever-watchful British press.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.