Formula 1 finally presented the sprint race that at least deserved the title. Max Verstappen dramatically won the opening match of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix by passing Charles Leclerc on the penultimate lap. Behind him, Lewis Hamilton sounded the death knell of all hopes of Mercedes to fight for the World Cup.
Mercedes has endured another fruitless work at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, with Hamilton acknowledging that any external chance to fight for the title has disappeared and – in a very surprising acknowledgment from the usually careful driver – that his team got the idea for the car they are wrong.
Their season was disappointing in the first three races and Imola seems to be his lowest point, with Sunday’s Grand Prix threatening to turn into a long midfield battle that they have not had to endure for almost a decade. Hamilton and his teammate George Russell managed to cope only with the 14th and 11th of their already unsightly 13th and 11th in the grid.
“Obviously we’re not fighting for the championship,” Hamilton said. “But we are struggling to understand the car and to improve and progress throughout the year. That is all we can hope for now. A lot of work goes into the background. In the end, we didn’t do well this year, but everyone is working hard to turn it around. “
Verstappen won the race with 21 laps and thus will start from the front of the grid after a brilliant lead in the penultimate lap, defeating Leclerc of Ferrari in second place and Sergio Perez third for Red Bull.
But for Mercedes, Imola left them to face a bitter reality that the eight-time consecutive champions have not accepted for so long. This year the title is beyond them. They had difficulty qualifying as their tires did not reach temperature, but during the short race they also struggled to make any progress across the field. Disappointment with the lack of performance began to show, as Hamilton and team leader Toto Wolfe engaged in a heated conversation after qualifying.
“Lewis and I were disappointed that we weren’t able to get productivity,” Wolfe said. “It was basically the same point of view and pure anger. None of the team is currently enjoying the trip. This weekend is a complete write-off, and in addition to the fact that we are learning, it is another humiliating experience.
With Mercedes out of the picture, the battle on the front remains between Leclerc and Verstappen. After winning eight points for the victory, Verstappen returned one point to Leclerc, who leads the Dutchman with 45 points.
The race was in some ways the best of the new sprint format, with previous events largely processions. Leclerc made an electric start by jumping Verstappen, who was on a pole, in the first turn. He led until Verstappen closed the last four laps and began to put Leclerc under pressure.
They were both from nose to tail until Verstappen made a beautiful pass from outside Tamburello on the penultimate lap, as the Dutchman enjoyed greater traction than his tires. It was a bravura move, perfectly executed and Verstappen closed the victory, emphasizing that he is in great shape in the main race.
Perez did just as well to move across the field from seventh place in the grid to third, an impressive move and vital for Red Bull to be able to play his part in the race. Carlos Sainz made several impressive, decisive moves to take fourth place after starting in tenth place in the grid.
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Ferrari have said they will probably allow their Russian test driver Robert Schwartzman to compete with the Formula One team using an Israeli license this season. “At the moment he is still our test pilot and will remain so,” said team director Mattia Binoto. “If we have any opportunities in the future to allow him to drive, we will probably allow him to drive. Robert was born in Israel and has an Israeli passport.
Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo were fifth and sixth for McLaren. Valteri Botas seventh for Alfa Romeo. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher eighth and 10th for Haas and Fernando Alonso ninth for Alpine.
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