Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, but even he didn’t expect the level of dominance he displayed at Imola that put an end to McLaren’s streak of wins.
After a challenging Miami weekend where Red Bull’s pace faltered in the long runs, Verstappen admitted post-race that his win on Sunday came as “quite surprising,” as he had serious doubts about tyre management and overall competitiveness heading into the race.
Starting from the front row but not pole, Verstappen had to make an early statement – and he did just that, executing a bold move around Oscar Piastri at Turn 2 to snatch the lead.
From there, he never looked back, controlling the race from the front and fending off any threats from the McLarens, even after a late Safety Car bunched the field.
A Risky Start Turns Into Race Control
Verstappen’s start wasn’t ideal, but it set the stage for his pivotal first-lap overtake that defined the race.
“Yeah, the initial start wasn’t that amazing, but then Turn 2 luckily worked out quite well for me,” he said during the post-race press conference.
“So I was happy to be in the lead, but I was still not entirely sure how quick we were going to be.
“Because I was also in the lead in Miami, but we did not have a great pace there. So I just tried to follow a bit my rhythm; I do think the car felt a bit nicer, a bit more controlled to drive now in the long run.”
©RedBull
It was that improved balance and predictability that allowed Verstappen to stretch his lead through the opening stint and conserve his tyres with a smoother touch than in past rounds.
“That helped me, I think, also to look after the tyres, probably a bit more than normal.
“So yeah, overall quite surprising, but of course very happy with what we showed today. I just hope that we can show this kind of performance a bit more often.”
The Move That Set the Tone
Verstappen’s lap-one move around Piastri was bold and clinical – precisely the kind of maneuver that has helped the Dutchman secure four world titles.
As Piastri defended against George Russell’s Mercedes, Verstappen saw the opportunity and didn’t hesitate.
“I think it’s a bit like I started to carry a bit more speed to the apex,” Verstappen explained.
Read also: Supreme Verstappen defeats McLaren, wins Red Bull’s 400th GP“Then at one point, you have that kind of a momentum swing going into Turn 3. And then, of course, I knew that I was ahead, but it all goes so fast.
“You have to be really precise to try and not go too far offline. But yeah, luckily the grip was all right there.”
The move not only gave him track position but ensured he could control the pace from the front – something Red Bull desperately needed after struggling to match McLaren's race pace in recent weeks.
Verstappen’s win at Imola was his second of the 2025 season and one that puts his team back in striking range of McLaren in the Constructors’ standings.
More importantly for Verstappen, it was a sign that his car – and his tyre management – might be getting back to its best just as the European leg of the championship heats up.
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