CNN
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Max Verstappen won a fantastic victory at the Emilia Romana Grand Prix on Sunday, leading in a spectacular way by overtaking Oscar Piastri on the first turn, even if Safety Car changed the skin complexion of the race.
McLaren’s Piastri began in pole position, initially holding back Verstappen before the Dutch pushed him to four world championships, restraining the brakes as much as possible, showing all the glow, unning courage that slipped outwards on the first turn.
Ultimately, Piastri is forced to abandon second place as teammate Rand Norris passed him with new tires all cars bundled together at the end of the race behind the safety car.
Norris was unable to catch Verstappen, so McLaren settled in second and third place behind Imola’s world title rivals.
“The car worked well and the executions throughout the race were very good because everyone is incredibly proud,” Verstappen said afterwards.
Similar to Verstappen’s early move, Sunday’s Grand Prix was defined in a virtual safety car mid-race with a full safety car with 17 laps remaining.
The virtual safety car caused by Esteban Ocon stopping on the grass next to the truck due to problems with his car happened at the best possible time before he pits after he pits.
That fortune stroke helped Verstappen build a seemingly insurmountable lead, swelling to 18 seconds at one point.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who ultimately finished fourth, was among those who also benefited from the virtual safety car.
But rather than settling in the procession to Verstappen’s finish, there was still some time for the late drama.
Like Ocon, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was forced on the grass by his car problems, but the organizers of this race deployed a completely safe car, and Verstappen’s comfortable lead was erased.
He and Norris both took advantage of the opportunity to maintain their position, leaving the British driver in a third and on newer, faster tires than their teammates.
By the time the race rebooted, there were only nine laps left, and Verstappen was striped from both McLarens, so Norris was unable to catch the Dutchman after overtaking Piastri.
“I just put on the brakes too early and Max was a good move,” Piastri said, recalling Verstappen’s move on the first turn.
“Unfortunately, obviously, and then we made some wrong calls. Not our best Sunday, but there’s a lot to look at and review afterwards.
Even in third place, Piastri maintained his position at the top of the driver’s position, but his cushion was cut 13 points ahead of Norris, with Verstappen now nine points after Norris.
This story has been updated with additional developments.