Max Verstappen once again proved at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix why he can never be written off after taking his second victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Red Bull star pulled off one of the best overtaking moves of the year to take the lead from Oscar Piastri on the opening lap.
Fans were amazed by Verstappen’s move on Piastri that handed him the lead in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but it was only one of several key moments that the 27-year-old nailed.
Max Verstappen has had clean air in the past this season, but that hasn’t always guaranteed victory.
The Dutchman led in Saudi Arabia and Miami but failed to win both races.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | POINTS |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 18 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 15 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 12 |
| 5 | Alex Albon | Williams | 10 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 8 |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes | 6 |
| 8 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 4 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 2 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1 |
He was penalised in Jeddah for cutting the first corner in his battle with Piastri but didn’t need to resort to a similar tactic at Imola.
Piastri admitted making the move too easy for Verstappen, but unlike in previous races, he wasn’t able to cut his lead down and instead pitted early, which turned out to be his biggest mistake.
Karun Chandhok couldn’t understand Piastri’s strategy and it cost him second place to Lando Norris, cutting his lead in the drivers’ championship to 13 points.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Jacques Villeneuve sees Ayrton Senna in Max Verstappen after Imola victory
Jacques Villeneuve covering the race in Italy for Sky Sports F1 (18/5 4:20 pm) and was thoroughly impressed with the 27-year-old’s performance with a comparison to Ayrton Senna arriving during his post-race analysis.
The 1997 F1 champion was asked whether a team principal actually wants the best driver line-up on the grid given the problems it can cause, as Norris and Piastri demonstrated on Sunday.
In response, the Canadian said, “You can’t have two Maxs in a team, you just can’t.
“These drivers are unique. He reminds me a little bit of Senna in a way.
“You know, a driver who could out-win your position. So, because, obviously, the Red Bull on paper is not the McLaren, it’s not on that level.
“But somehow, as a unit, they manage to do better. They manage with strength, with [the] will to go for it and to end up winning.”
READ MORE: All to know about Ayrton Senna including Alain Prost rivalry and Imola crash
How Ayrton Senna’s toughest F1 teammates compared to Max Verstappen’s rivals
Red Bull have made a habit since Daniel Ricciardo departed the team of pairing Verstappen with drivers who are much better suited to the role of a number two.
The likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon were less experienced than Verstappen but couldn’t handle the pressure of lining up alongside him.
Both drivers you would imagine are up to the task now, although Liam Lawson’s troubled two-race stint at Red Bull couldn’t have gone worse.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
246 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
141 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
105 |
| 4 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
94 |
| 5 |
Williams F1 Team |
37 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
20 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
14 |
| 8 |
Racing Bulls |
8 |
| 9 |
Alpine F1 Team |
7 |
| 10 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
Yuki Tsunoda is now feeling the pressure and Sergio Perez’s four-season stint is looking more and more impressive by the week.
In comparison, Ayrton Senna had some fierce battles with Alain Prost when they were teammates at McLaren.
Prost even blocked Senna driving for Ferrari when he was at the Scuderia, denying the Brazilian his dream move.
Both drivers performed at their best when they were in control of their teams as Verstappen continues to demonstrate this season.
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