F1 Imola 2025: Max Verstappen wins dramatic Emilia-Romagna GP, holds off Norris in final laps; check final standings

Max Verstappen won the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, holding off a late charge from McLaren’s Lando Norris to take his 59th career victory. Starting from pole, Verstappen led most of the 63-lap race but faced intense tire degradation in the final laps. Norris closed the gap but ran out of time to pass.


Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, giving the home fans something to cheer. Oscar Piastri came fourth, while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were sixth and seventh.



The race was strategic, with most drivers opting for a medium-to-hard tire strategy. Verstappen built an early gap but struggled in the latter part, particularly after his pit stop. Norris, who pitted later, benefited from fresher tires. Despite gaining nearly two seconds a lap near the end, the Brit couldn’t move before the finish line.


Piastri, who had started second, received a three-place grid penalty after qualifying for blocking Kevin Magnussen and had to start fifth, which cost him a better podium shot.


It was also a difficult race for Sergio Pérez, who started outside the top 10 after a crash in qualifying. He finished eighth, limiting his points and allowing Leclerc to jump ahead in the standings.

Updated F1 driver standings (Top 5):

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 161 pts
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 113 pts
3. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) – 107 pts
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 101 pts
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 93 pts

Key takeaways:

Verstappen's fifth win in seven races highlights Red Bull's continued dominance in the sport. McLaren has emerged as a serious contender for podiums, while Ferrari maintains consistency but is still behind in raw pace. Mercedes, on the other hand, is facing challenges in both race pace and qualifying.

The next race is the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25–26, where precision and strategy will once again be critical.