Verstappen resists Norris fightback to claim dramatic F1 victory at Imola
Al Jazeera
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen holds off last-start winner Lando Norris of McLaren to extend his championship lead.
Three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen returned to winning ways when he resisted a late charge by Lando Norris to take a dramatic victory for Red Bull at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
After being beaten in Miami, where friend and rival Norris claimed his maiden victory for McLaren, the Dutchman resisted him on Sunday to come home 0.725 seconds ahead of the Briton, who mounted a rousing final attack in vain.
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Sergio Perez was eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, in his Faenza-based team’s home event.
Verstappen’s hard-earned win, after a difficult two days of practice, was his third at Imola, his fifth of the season and the 59th of his career, lifting him 48 points clear of Leclerc in the drivers’ title race.
