Max verstappen claims the win at Imola, ending Oscar Piastri’s three race win streak!

Lights out

As the lights went out Oscar Piastri had a good start but Max Verstappen had an even better start. As they went into the first corner, Verstappen made his way past Piastri to take the race lead. 

Lap 2

On Lap 2, Esteban Ocon decided to make an early pit stop due to the lack in pace, he entered the pits to change onto hards and rejoined P20.

Lap 3

Lap 3 saw Pierre Gasly desperate to make up positions as he closed in on Charles Leclerc, however the overtake was unsuccessful as Gasly went off track into the gravel before he rejoined the race. Leclerc took advantage of the situation as he moved up into P9 while Gasly fell down to P14.

Lap 10

Lando Norris made his own attempt to gain positions as he went around the outside of George Russell. Norris was unsuccessful as two of his tyres had gone onto the grass, Russell quick to report the stunt on the radio:

“He drove on the grass.”

Lap 11

Soon enough, Norris had made another attempt on Russell as he went around the outside and claimed P3.

Lap 14

Piastri was called into the pits for hards but had a slow stop which lasted 3.9 seconds, Piastri rejoined the race at P12 and was ready to claim back positions.

Lap 19 

Yuki Tsunoda’s engineer was quick to make him aware of the looming Australian that was behind him with: “Car behind is Piastri, gap is 1.5 seconds. He is Max’s race so do your best to hold him up.”

Tsunoda defended but it wasn’t enough as Piastri breezed past him for P10.

Piastri continued his desperation to claim back positions as he eased past Oliver Bearman for P9 then seconds later Piastri made his way around Franco Colapinto for P8!

Lap 29

Lap 29 saw disappointment for Haas as Ocon was told to stop the car due to an issue. Ocon stopped in the grass which later brought out the Virtual Safety Car, Leclerc who was affected by the VSC shared his frustration over the radio: “unbelievable! This is unbelievable. Every time I get f****d with a Virtual Safety Car!”

Lap 34

Carlos Sainz made his way around Yuki Tsunoda for P13 but the two had clipped wheels, Sainz had reported the incident on the radio with: “Again, this guy touched me like in Bahrain!” 

The incident was noted before no further investigation was taken. 

Lap 36

On Lap 36, Russell eased his way past Fernando Alonso for P8!

Lewis Hamilton on the same lap breezed past Isack Hadjar for P5!

Lap 38

Sainz continued gaining positions as he made his way around Lance Stroll for P12!

Leclerc also continued on as he squeezed last Kimi Antonelli for P7!

Lap 40

On Lap 40, Alex Albon defended as best as he could but ultimately got overtaken by Piastri as he claimed P3.

Tsunoda made a dive around the inside of Alonso with P12, with Alonso frustrated about the overtake on the radio: “yeah, it’s going to be torture, it’s a wreck, I’m the unluckiest driver in the f*****g world!”

Lap 44

Lap 44, Colapinto’s engineer came onto the radio as he made him aware of a position swap, he let Gasly past with Gasly thanking Colapinto on the radio: “thanks for that!”

Lap 46

Antonelli was met with disappointment as he stopped out on track due to an issue which brought out the safety car, drivers had started to pit in response with Leclerc being one of the drivers who wanted to pit before he was quickly told to stay back out due to Ferrari not having any tyres that would last to the end.

Lap 53

The safety car returned to the pit lane as the drivers went back to racing, Tsunoda was quick to overtake Nico Hülkenberg for P10!

Lap 57

Hamilton made his way past his old teammate, Russell, as he claimed P6!

Lap 60

On lap 60, Norris has the faster and fresher tyres as he made his way around his McLaren teammate and claimed P2!

On the same lap, Albon made an attempt to overtake Leclerc but was pushed into the gravel as Leclerc kept the position, Hamilton seconds later breezed past Albon for P5.

Albon quick in the radio as he complained about the situation: “that was unfair!”

Lap 63

Lap 63, Leclerc was quickly told to give the position back after a penalty was on his way, Leclerc let Albon last which saw now further actions being taken.

Verstappen made his way down the track as he claimed the win to end Piastri’s three race win streak, Verstappen followed by Norris in P2 and Piastri in P3!

Up Next: up next is the long-awaited Monaco Grand Prix from the 23^rd – 25^th of May!