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regular-article-logo Saturday, 23 November 2024

Formula One: Max Verstappen rules at Ferrari home

Mexican Sergio Perez finished 16.527 seconds behind the Dutch driver, with Lando Norris repeating last year’s third place

Reuters Imola Published 25.04.22, 01:28 AM
Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen File Photo

World champion Max Verstappen took maximum points from Formula One’s Imola sprint weekend, leading a Red Bull one-two on Sunday as Ferrari’s homecoming turned sour for overall leader Charles Leclerc and his Italian team.

Mexican Sergio Perez finished 16.527 seconds behind the Dutch driver, with Lando Norris repeating last year’s third place at the Emilia Romagna GP to claim McLaren’s first podium of the season.

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Championship leader Leclerc, winner of two of the first three races, fought back to sixth place after a late spin on a drying track while running in third.

His Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz saw his race end in the gravel after an opening lap collision with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen, who took the maximum eight points on Saturday for winning a sprint race from pole, also took a bonus point on Sunday for the fastest lap and is now 27 points adrift of Leclerc.

“That was a very lovely Sunday,” the 24-year-old said over the team radio after leading from start to finish for his second win of a season in which he has also suffered two retirements.

Ferrari’s lead over Red Bull in the constructors standings was slashed to 11 points.

Sebastian Vettel took Aston Martin’s first points in eighth, Kevin Magnussen was ninth for Haas and Lance Stroll 10th for Aston Martin.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was lapped by Verstappen after 41 of the 63 laps and finished 13th, gaining a place at the finish when Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had a penalty added for an unsafe release in the pitlane.

“I’m out of the championship, for sure,” said Hamilton.

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