F1 Emilia Romagna GP LIVE RESULT: Max Verstappen WINS in Italy with McLaren finishing second and third
MAX Verstappen picked up his second win of the 2025 season in Italy.
The Dutch driver took the lead of the race from Oscar Piastri on the first corner, and came home to win from there.
Piastri ended the day in third, with teammate Lando Norris coming home in second place, overtaking Piastri towards the end of the race.
Lewis Hamilton came home in fourth place in his first home race with Ferrari.
- Start time: 2pm BST
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
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Goodbye!
Well, if this was the final time, we enjoyed you Imola.
Criticised for its lack of quality competitive driving but we had that in spades throughout the Italian race.
We'll leave you with report that details the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix events.
Imola future
This race appears more and more likely to be Formula 1's farewell to one of its most recognisable courses. In addition to being one of the most scenic locations in Formula One, Imola is up against some fierce competition and has a rich history of tragedy and tradition.
However, given F1's ambition to enter new markets and produce more profitable events, the writing has been on the wall for a while. Since the calendar isn't going to expand to 24 races a year just yet, space will need to be made for the Madrid Grand Prix, which makes its debut the following year.
For contemporary Grand Prix racing, the Imola course simply isn't suitable. As Horner noted, it is difficult to defend Italy's holding two races, particularly because both of them are often dull parades.
It is anticipated that no statement about the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix's future will be made in the immediate future. Although the 2026 race schedule is still being set, things don't appear to be in Imola’s favour.
Hamilton Tifosi message
Lewis Hamilton may slipped below in all the post-race discourse, but the fairly-new Ferrari driver produced a stunning drive to entertain his new fans.
In his first and possibly last Ferrari home race in Imola, Hamilton moved up eight spots to claim a P4 finish.
"Forza Tifosi. That was for them," he dedicated his climb on his radio.
Stat attack!
Alex Albon is 3 points away from having more points in 2025 then in his entire 22-24 Williams season.
Max Verstappen now has the same number of podiums at Red Bull as Michael Schumacher at Ferrari (116).
With P7, George Russell finishes outside the top 5 for the first time this season.
Most F1 team race wins in the 21st century:
- Red Bull - 124
- Ferrari - 123
- McLaren - 71
- Renault - 20
- Others - 28
Norris smells good?
Even when he's not winning, Lando Norris still exudes some sort of good vibes, apparently, according to David Coulthard.
The broadcaster complemented the McLaren driver's scent post-race: “Congratulations on that result and by the way, you smell spectacular. I don't know what McLaren cologne you have.”
In the cool room, Norris stated: "Into turn 7 one lap, I dipped a wheel on the grass, I ran so deep, squared it off came out and it was the best corner. there was way more grip out on the dirt! I tried to do it next lap [and it didn't work]”
'Two McLarens on the podium, we’re OK with that' - Stella
As for Horner's opposite number, Andrea Sella considers it a productive race in the interim as Monaco approaches.
“It was an eventful race, plenty of twists and turns but it didn’t change the leader. Fair play to Max, he was very fast – we tried different strategies but nothing really paid off. Two McLarens on the podium, we’re OK with that.”
Did he consider putting Norris ahead of Piastri after the safety car? “We wanted to give Oscar his chance in the race … and we thought that if Lando had the pace to catch Max, he would get past Oscar pretty easily anyway.”
'Decisive Max determines win' - Horner
Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner speaking to Sky Sports: “We definitely improved the car yesterday, his start was either win it or bin it – Oscar was fair, but the commitment [Max] has … incredibly decisive, and he is so good in those situations.”
Final results
Here's how the final race classification played out:
Podium three
The undeniable three best in the business, with the current world champion reigning back on top.
Drivers' standings
Here's how the World Championship standings look:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 146pts
- Lando Norris (McLaren) 133pts
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 124pts
- George Russell (Mercedes) 99pts
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 61pts
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 53pts
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 48pts
- Alexander Albon (Williams) 40pts
Race winner Verstappen speaks
“The start itself wasn’t that great but I was still on the right line, the outside line – once we got ahead, we could unleash our pace," the No.1 Red Bull driver said post-race.
"Massive improvement from Friday, which I’m happy about. Virtual safety car helped, but the later safety car brought everyone back together. Really important week for us, the car ran well, we executed everything really well.”
Piastri speaks after race
The Championship leader started the race on the top, but was displaced on the first lap, second corner and on weary tyres managed to battle himself back into a podium position.
The top ten
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Geroge Russell, Mercedes
- Carlos Sainz, Williams
- Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
- Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull
Verstappen WINS Imola
The Red Bull driver soared into a leading psotion on the second corner and cruised albeit with safety car luck into his fourth win at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and maintains his position in the Championship race.
Its a 2-3 for the Mclaren; Norris second, Piastri third, who were unable to catch their Dutch title contender.
Home favourite Antonelli faded out of action with retirement. So did Ocon early on.
The main story-line of the race will involve Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon, who battled for P5 in the final laps before the former had to hand the Williams driver via race chiefs.
Lap 63/63 – Albon PASSES Leclerc
Albon once again dives in on Leclerc but is unable to yield the fan favourite.
The Williams driver is displaying exceptional grit here and earns the position via race directive after their initial fight.
Lap 61/63 – Verstappen leads, Mclaren 2-3, Ferrari 4-5
Albon aims to gain advantage on Leclrec, goes steering off into the dirt amongst the clash before recovering in stylish fashion to regain his position on track.
Daring, unsuccessful but commendable from the Williams driver.
Leclrec is unable to fight off his Ferrari teammate as Hamilton moves into fourth in a fight for the final podium position.
Lap 59/63 – Norris OVERTAKES Piastri
The teammate battle everyone was eager to see unfold came to fruition in well-mannered conditions as Norris jumps his fellow Mclaren with the DRS combination. The Brit moves into second.
Lap 57/63 – Verstappen leads, Mclaren 2-3
The battle as we enter into the final laps seems to be firmly placed within the Mclarens: Piastri holds second but with worsen tires.
Hamilton makes the awkward move on Russell. Watch out for Gasly in P13.
Lap 55/63 – Verstappen leads, Mclaren 2-3
Verstappen gets a suitable exit on the green flag through the Tamburello chicane as he keeps the two chasing Mclarens at bay.
Leclerc jumps into fourth.
Lap 54/63 – Safety Car ended
On Antonelli's retirement, it seems its an accelerator issue.
Regardless, we're back racing as most of the pack take up a hard tyre approach but not Piastri whose are 22 laps old.
This track has been criticised for its lack of entertainment. That may all change in its'final outing. Sit back, and relax as the field closes up.
Top ten: Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Albon, Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Hadjar and Hulkenberg.
Lap 51/63 – Safety Car coming to close
Confusion, drama and excitement embroiled in this edition of the Safety Car as it contradicts what we saw with the first yellow flag despite the similarity of the situation.
Antonelli's car is whisked away by the marshals in the long wait.
Lap 48/63 – Antonelli OUT, Verstappen and Norris pits
Leclerc is ordered to stay out as Ferrari don't have the required tyres to compete for a good finish.
Whilst most of the field take advantage of the slow conditions to change.
Antonelli exits his car and waves despondently to his people.
Lap 46/63 – YELLOW FLAG and SAFETY CAR
Issue for Antonelli in the Mercedes as the actual Safety Car comes out.
He pulls off to the grass and it seems his home race is over.
Lap 45/63 – Verstappen first, Norris second, Piastri third
We've got Mclarens bunched up at the top, followed by Ferraris in fith and sixth, Mercedes in the upper midfield and Alpine at the bottom.
Expect tense racing and even tenser team radios in the last stretch.
Alonso, who his 12 years removed from a race win, blasts his frustration on the radio: "the unluckiest driver in the world" as he seeks his first top-ten finish of the season.
Also, Bearman has NOT retired but his struggling at the back of the pack.
Lap 41/63 – Verstappen first, Piastri re-enters top three
Piastri makes his move back into top three to join his fellow title contenders at the expense of Albon.
If there's one critic of the Hadjar game, it is the defensive game must sharped up as Lecrlec kills him on the straight line speed with no resistance.