Max Verstappen has returned to winning ways after missing out in Miami by taking victory in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with the Dutchman holding off an exciting late charge from Lando Norris.
It is thirty years since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed at the Imola track and the current champion eventually finished first again ahead of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen built up a solid lead in the early stages and enjoyed a mostly serene drive around the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, until Norris's McLaren began to close the gap as the race reached its latter stages.
Norris cut into Verstappen’s advantage, but a snap of oversteer seemed to take further life out of the McLaren driver’s ageing tyres, allowing the Red Bull to hold onto P1 by just 0.725s as the chequered flag was waved.
Despite looking to be on Norris’s tail in the fight for P2 earlier in the event, Charles Leclerc had to settle for the final podium position of third in front of Ferrari’s home fans.