Verstappen makes amazing Imola start with one of the ‘a…read more
Max Verstappen produced a stunning overtake on lap one of the Imola Grand Prix to lead the race from championship leader Oscar Piastri, as Lewis Hamilton lost out at the start.
Piastri had beaten the Dutchman to pole position on Saturday, and got off the line well, keeping Verstappen behind him into turn one.
However, Verstappen produced a stunning late braking move, managing to get himself ahead of Piastri into turn two, as he desperately scrambles to keep his hopes of a fifth consecutive world championship alive.
Hamilton, meanwhile, dropped a position at the start, moving down to 13th, although a mistake from Pierre Gasly on lap two allowed Hamilton to move back up into the position he started after a poor qualifying.
Sky Sports F1 commentator Harry Benjamin called Verstappen’s overtake one of the ‘all-time first lap moves’ – as the Dutchman firmly put himself into race-winning contention.
