Max Verstappen made a bold move to open the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, then held off challengers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to capture the Formula One race on Sunday in Imola, Italy.

It was the second win of the season for Red Bull’s Verstappen, a four-time world champion.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri held the pole position, but it did not take long for Verstappen to overtake him in the Tamburello chicane. And when Piastri and others opted for an early pit stop, the 27-year-old Netherlands native stayed on the course and built his lead.

“The start itself wasn’t particularly great, but then I was still on the outside line, basically the normal line, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m just going to try and send it around the outside’,” Verstappen said. “It worked really well. That of course then unleashed our pace, because once we were in the lead, the car was good. I could look after my tires and we had very good pace today.”

And did it ever work to Verstappen’s advantage that he decided against that early pit.

The virtual safety car was activated on Lap 29 when Esteban Ocon pulled his Haas off the track. That allowed Verstappen to pit with minimal impact on time. In fact, his lead ballooned to about 20 seconds.

The gap narrowed on Lap 46 when leader Verstappen and Norris, running second, pitted when the safety car was deployed after Kimi Antonelli pulled off the track. Piastri, Norris’ McLaren teammate, did not pit, but Verstappen’s excellent restart allowed him to maintain the lead.

Verstappen crossed the line in front in just over 91 minutes. Norris was 6.1 seconds behind, followed by Piastri. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton took fourth, less than two seconds behind Piastri, and Williams’ Alexander Albon was fifth.

“We managed it all really well and brought it home,” Verstappen said. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone. It’s been a very important week for us, the car has performed really well, and also I think the whole execution of the whole race, when to pit, the pit stops themselves, were all very good.”

Finishing 16th on the 20-car grid was Franco Colapinto of Argentina, who replaced rookie Jack Doohan after just six races on the schedule. Alpine officials said they were seeking a better points-generating partner for top driver Pierre Gasly and were committed to Colapinto for at least five races.

–Field Level Media