Max Verstappen triumphs in thrilling 2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Formula 1 MSC Cruises Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna 2024/Red Bull Content Pool

IMOLA, Italy -- In a nail-biting finish at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing clinched victory, narrowly holding off a determined Lando Norris of McLaren. The race, held on May 19, 2024, saw Verstappen securing his fifth win of the season, extending his lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Check out the results of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend in Italy, including the race results, qualifying times, and practice sessions

Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris in a tense battle for victory at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

"One or two more laps and I think I would have had him," Norris said after the race.

"I pushed hard the last few laps, but I lost too much time to Max in the first part of the race."

Verstappen, starting strong, maintained his position at the front despite constant pressure from Norris. The McLaren driver, fresh from his victory in Miami, proved relentless, gradually closing the gap to just seven-tenths of a second by the checkered flag.

“I think the whole race I had to push flat out to try and make a gap initially," said Verstappen after race. "I think on the medium tyres we were quite strong, on the hards tyres it was just a bit more difficult to manage, especially in the last 10, 15 laps. I had no grip anymore, I was really sliding a lot.”

Verstappen added. "I saw Lando closing in, so the last 10 laps I was just flat out. It’s very difficult when the tyres are not working anymore and you have to go flat-out. I couldn't afford to make too many mistakes. Luckily we didn’t, and super happy of course to win here today.”

Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, completed the podium, finishing in third place after a competitive race.

Max Verstappen secured the victory with a commanding performance with a notable race time 1:25:25.252, securing 25 points for Red Bull Racing. Lando Norris of McLaren, with a marginal difference of just 0.725 seconds, finished second and emphasizing the incredibly tight competition at the top levels of Formula 1. Charles Leclerc, while not as close to Norris, maintained a strong pace to finish third, 7.916 seconds behind Verstappen, demonstrating Ferrari's competitive edge.

The start was intense, with Verstappen and Norris both getting off the line cleanly. Norris managed to fend off an early challenge from Leclerc, setting the stage for a strategic battle between Red Bull Racing and McLaren.

On lap 47, the race shifted. Leclerc overshoot his breaking at the Variante Alta and cutting the chivane in an attempt to keep up with Norris. This slip allowed Norris to concentrate fully on narrowing the gap to Verstappen and pursue him more aggressively, without pressure.

Norris pushed his McLaren to its absolute limit.

"I think we can happily say we're in a position of [fighting] Ferrari and Red Bull and it's what we have to get used to.” said Norris after race.

“It’s still a surprise to say 'it's frustrating not to win' but after last weekend and the improvements we've made it's what we should start to expect." he added.

Leclerc said after race: "We were very fast at the beginning of the stint with the hard [tyre]. We started to push and try and put some pressure on Lando, but later on they were incredibly quick. All in all, I think the race pace was quite strong. It's incredible to be here on the podium with all of the Tifosi."

The race saw various pit strategies come into play, particularly as Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri opted for an early switch to hard tires around the halfway mark.

Verstappen's victory was not without its challenges. He reported tire issues midway through the race, and with Norris cutting down his lead in the final laps, the Dutchman’s composure under pressure was on full display.

"The car felt great, but it was a tough fight to the end," Verstappen commented post-race.

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari finished fifth behind Piastri of McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton secured sixth for Mercedes. Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, took seventh, showcasing the Silver Arrows' consistency even as they struggled to match the pace of the front runners. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing teammate, finished eighth, making a late charge after a prolonged stint on hard tires.

Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and Yuki Tsunoda of RB rounded out the top ten, with Tsunoda making several impressive overtakes throughout the race.

Further down the order, Alex Albon’s race was marred by a pit stop error, resulting in a 10-second stop/go penalty, relegating him to last place.

The championship standings now see Verstappen leading with 161 points, followed by Leclerc with 113 and Perez with 107. Norris, with his strong performances, climbs to fourth with 101 points, keeping the championship battle intriguing as the season progresses.

In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull Racing remains dominant with 268 points, ahead of Ferrari and McLaren, who have 212 and 154 points, respectively. Mercedes is fourth with 79 points, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s field.

As the Formula 1 moves to the Spanish Grand Prix, the question remains: can anyone consistently challenge Verstappen’s dominance? Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see if Norris can continue his impressive form and if Ferrari can leverage their recent upgrades to close the gap further.

The next race is in Circuit de Monaco, Monaco on May 26.

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