No World Championship point for the Sauber team in the 600th Formula 1 race – Verstappen wins

(sda) The first decisive scene unfolded at the Autodromo Internazionale Dino e Enzo Ferrari shortly after the start. Max Verstappen overtook Oscar Piastri, who had started from pole position, in the second corner, immediately putting a few reassuring meters between himself and his closest rival.

The seventh Grand Prix of the year, in which the Red Bull team competed in its 400th Formula 1 race, continued to take an advantageous course for world champion Verstappen. Piastri and his McLaren crew, influenced by an early first pit stop by Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, decided to change their strategy from one to two stops for tire changes – and their decision proved to be wrong.

Verstappen, like Piastri's teammate Lando Norris, initially made a pit stop and remained out of reach of the Australian. In addition, the Dutchman and the Englishman were able to have their tires replaced during a virtual safety car phase, with a reduced speed as per regulations and a correspondingly reduced time loss. The retirement of Frenchman Esteban Ocon in the Haas had necessitated the neutralization.

Verstappen seemed headed for a safe victory. But things almost turned out differently. Three-quarters of the way through the race, the young Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had to coast the Mercedes due to a defect, forced the lead car to intervene. The clear lead was gone, and Piastri moved up to second place at the expense of Norris, who had another tire change. However, the Briton turned the tables again in the internal duel with five laps to go.

Verstappen, however, remained untouched even by Norris. The title holder had already gained a considerable time advantage and defended the lead in commanding fashion until the finish. His fourth consecutive victory at Imola was his second this year, following his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix six weeks earlier. In the overall World Championship standings, Verstappen, currently in third place, reduced his deficit to leader Piastri by 10 points to 22. Norris is in second place, 13 points behind.

The Sauber drivers once again came away empty-handed. German Nico Hülkenberg finished the race in 12th place, while Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto found himself at the bottom of the rankings.