Max Verstappen claimed victory at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praising the Dutchman’s “win it or bin it” overtake on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 as the defining moment of the race. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, hosting Red Bull’s 400th Grand Prix, witnessed Verstappen’s masterful performance as he surged from second on the grid to seize the lead in a breathtaking first-lap maneuver, setting the tone for a dominant drive.
The race began with championship leader Piastri, who had secured his third pole position of the season by a mere 0.034 seconds over Verstappen, launching well from the front. However, as the field approached the Tamburello chicane, Verstappen saw an opportunity. With Mercedes’ George Russell pressuring from third, Piastri left a slight gap on the outside. Verstappen, renowned for his fearless racing instincts, committed fully to the move, braking late and carrying significant speed to sweep around Piastri’s McLaren. The four-time world champion kept his Red Bull within the track limits, forcing Piastri to yield as he claimed the lead exiting the chicane.
Horner was effusive in his praise for Verstappen’s precision and bravery, describing the overtake as a “decisive” moment that showcased why the Dutchman remains one of Formula 1’s elite. Speaking to Sky Sports, Horner noted that Piastri, mindful of defending his championship lead, gave Verstappen just enough space to complete the move cleanly. “Max was coming from a way back, and he just commits to the corner,” Horner said. “It was win it or bin it, and he’s just so good in those situations.” The move, reminiscent of Verstappen’s iconic 2021 Mexican Grand Prix pass on both Mercedes drivers, underlined his ability to capitalize on fleeting opportunities, particularly at a circuit like Imola where clean air is critical for maintaining pace.
Verstappen never relinquished the lead after his bold start, managing a Virtual Safety Car period triggered by Haas’ Esteban Ocon stopping on track and a full Safety Car deployment following Kimi Antonelli’s retirement in his Mercedes on lap 46. Despite the latter erasing his 18-second lead, Verstappen executed a flawless restart to hold off McLaren’s Lando Norris, who overtook teammate Piastri late in the race to secure second place. Piastri, hampered by older tires after opting not to pit under the Safety Car, settled for third, reducing his Drivers’ Championship lead over Norris to 13 points, with Verstappen now just 22 points adrift.
Reflecting on the race, Piastri admitted to a critical error at Turn 1, conceding that he “braked too early,” allowing Verstappen to exploit the gap. “It was a good move by Max,” Piastri said in the post-race press conference. “I thought I had it under control, but I’ll learn for next time.” Telemetry data revealed Verstappen’s superior momentum, with the Red Bull driver maintaining full throttle for 10 meters longer than Piastri, entering the braking zone nearly 30 km/h faster. This speed differential, combined with Verstappen’s precise car placement on the grippier racing line, made the overtake possible, despite the high risk of running wide or losing control.
Horner also highlighted Red Bull’s improved performance, expressing surprise at McLaren’s relative lack of pace despite their dominance in earlier races. Recent upgrades introduced in Miami and Imola appear to have addressed Red Bull’s tire degradation issues, allowing Verstappen to maintain a strong pace throughout the 63-lap race. “We had the margin on tire deg, and Max was able to respond,” Horner said, noting that the team felt unpressured from behind, a stark contrast to McLaren’s commanding victory in Miami two weeks prior.
The race was not without drama elsewhere. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, starting 12th and 11th after a poor qualifying, recovered to fourth and sixth, respectively, giving the Tifosi something to cheer about. Williams’ Alex Albon continued his strong form with a fifth-place finish, while Yuki Tsunoda fought back from a pit-lane start to claim the final point in 10th. However, the weekend was marred by disappointment for Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, whose mechanical failure ended a challenging home race.
Verstappen’s victory marked his fourth consecutive win at Imola and his 65th career triumph, further cementing his legacy in Red Bull’s milestone 400th Grand Prix.