25 April,2022 08:14 AM IST | Imola (Italy) | AFP
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen on the podium after winning the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
World champion Max Verstappen rekindled his title defence on Sunday with an accomplished victory ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in a dominant one-two triumph for Red Bull at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
In a rain-affected race, the pole-sitting 24-year-old Dutchman came home more than 16 seconds ahead of his teammate as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari endured a disappointing day in front of passionate home support at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
"Today, you never know with the weather how competitive you are going to be but I think we did very well and this one-two is very deserved," said Verstappen.
"The start was very important but afterwards, judging the conditions and when to swap to the slick tyres, because in the lead you have to always dictate the pace."
ALSO READ
Dejected Max Verstappen baffled as to how his dominant Red Bull car has become ''a monster''
Norris takes pole for Italian GP
Dutch GP: Norris pips home favourite Verstappen to victory
Lando Norris beats Max Verstappen to win the Dutch Grand Prix and cut standings gap
McLaren’s Lando Norris takes pole at Dutch GP
Leclerc, who started second on the grid, finished sixth after making a poor start and spinning in the closing laps while running third, allowing Lando Norris to take the final podium place for McLaren.
George Russell produced a stirring drive for Mercedes to come home fourth after starting 11th, fending off Valtteri Bottas's Alfa Romeo at the finish, while teammate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished a distant 14th.
India's Jehan Daruvala finished a creditable second in the sprint race of the Formula 2 championships here.
Daruvala, 23, who started third, rocketed off the line to slot into second behind Marcus Armstrong, who took the lead after sprint race pole-sitter Logan Sargeant made a tardy getaway and dropped to fifth on Saturday.
Jehan kept the position through an early safety car and then a subsequent Virtual Safety Car period before unleashing his pace.
Jehan, backed by Red Bull Racing, cranked up the pressure on Armstrong, harrying him for the lead as he closed to within a second of the Kiwi racer.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
