Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Editor's Top/Flop

Tops

Max Verstappen in charge

Faced with McLaren's supremacy this season, he remains the only true opponent. Qualified in second position, the Dutchman compensated for a poor start with a bold maneuver, overtaking George Russell and Oscar Piastri thanks to a perfectly executed late braking. Once in the lead, he set a pace superior to that of the McLarens. The virtual safety car played in his favor during his first pit stop, causing him to lose minimal time. Even the late-race neutralization, which reduced his lead, did not hinder his mastery. This earned him a second victory this season and confirmed the progress made by Red Bull at Imola. Enough to look to the future with confidence.

Ferrari gets back on track

After a difficult Saturday marked by failed qualifications, Charles Leclerc started only 11th and Lewis Hamilton 12th. Sunday presented a completely different picture for the reds. Lewis Hamilton was able to take advantage of the neutralizations to climb up to 4th place, finishing the race with an impressive pace. Less fortunate with the interruptions, Charles Leclerc struggled in the final laps and finished 6th. A total of 20 points were gained, an unexpected outcome considering the start of the weekend for Ferrari.

The Solid Williams

For the third time this season, after Australia and Miami, Alex Albon finishes fifth. The Thai driver expertly managed his tires and the safety car phases. He was third for a long time, holding off the Ferraris and managing to pass Charles Leclerc but was unable to fend off Lewis Hamilton. With 40 points on the scoreboard, he stands out as the best representative from teams outside the top teams (Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren) in the overall standings. At the Imola circuit, Carlos Sainz delivered a solid performance by securing a well-deserved 8th place. The Spaniard was consistent and opportunistic, taking advantage of the various twists and turns, especially during the neutralizations. Although limited by the potential of his car compared to the leading teams, the Spaniard maximized his car's pace to stay in the race and finish in the points.

Flops

Bad weekend for Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon had a difficult weekend starting from the qualifying sessions, failing to qualify for Q2 and finding himself at the bottom of the timesheets on Saturday. This disappointing performance left little hope for Sunday's race, and unfortunately, the situation did not improve. On lap 29, the Frenchman was forced to retire, bringing an early end to an already complicated event. This new setback extends a rough patch for Esteban Ocon, who now faces three consecutive Grand Prix without scoring any points, highlighting the ongoing difficulties he encounters this season.

Oscar Piastri: the big loser

Starting from pole position, the Australian, who currently leads the championship and was on an impressive streak of three consecutive victories, saw his race take a turn against Max Verstappen. The latter gained a clear and decisive advantage, relegating the championship leader to second position. As if that wasn't enough, his own teammate overtook him in the final moments of the race, adding to his disappointment. This double setback is hard to digest for the driver, who showed visible frustration at the finish, aware of having let a great opportunity slip away.

Aston Martin in trouble

The green cars had achieved their best performance in qualifying on Saturday, with Fernando Alonso fifth and Lance Stroll eighth, offering great hope for the race. However, despite a good start to the race, the Aston Martins quickly lost pace as soon as the hard tires were fitted. The interventions of the safety cars did not help to reverse the trend, and in the end, the Spaniard finished 11th while the Canadian finished 15th.