Red Bull have now ‘nailed’ the key advantage McLaren had over the rest of the F1 field after Max Verstappen’s Imola victory

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his second race of the season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, after an impressive overtake on Oscar Piastri.

The Dutchman overtook Piastri at the first corner, taking to the outside line at Tamburello corner and making it stick.

Alex Brundle said Verstappen’s move was ‘beautiful’ because he left just enough space on the outside to prevent Lando Norris from overtaking him, while he also gave Piastri space through the corner to abide by the rules.

Verstappen’s bold overtakes at the start have been the subject of controversy at recent Grands Prix, after he was handed a five-second time penalty in Saudi Arabia for overtaking Piastri off track.

The Red Bull driver effectively controlled the race after overtaking Piastri and, despite a late Safety Car, was able to win by a comfortable margin from McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Discussing Red Bull’s form on The Race F1 podcast, journalist Jonathan Noble believes Red Bull has now unlocked performance from their car that now puts them on par with McLaren.

Red Bull can now get their car into the right balance window

Red Bull’s start to the season has been tricky after Verstappen has consistently complained about balance issues in his RB21.

In Miami, Verstappen had problems with his brakes while in previous races he had simply been unable to match the McLarens on race pace despite starting from pole.

Noble believes Red Bull has now unlocked more performance by understanding their setup window on the RB21 at Imola, a track that has historically suited them.

“This was genuine Red Bull pace. They found just a better way of getting the car into the right balance, it’s given them more options,” said Noble.

“They’ve been chasing it all season and always believed that the benefits of getting into the right balance window, where the car is not sliding, not overheating its tyres, they stay in a better window where they don’t slide again.

“It’s just this beautiful virtuous circle that McLaren have nailed and now Red Bull have nailed on a track that favours the Red Bull over McLaren.”

Max Verstappen closes the gap to McLaren drivers

Verstappen’s consistent form in the first seven races of the season has effectively kept him in the title hunt, especially given Piastri has shown unstoppable pace by winning four races so far.

Jacques Villeneuve said Verstappen reminded him of Ayrton Senna with his Imola victory, given he is winning in a car that isn’t the outright quickest.

Verstappen now moves to within 10 points of Norris in the Drivers’ Championship with his victory, an important points swing heading into the European rounds.

Red Bull will be hopeful that the inroads made on their car in Imola will enable them to close the gap to McLaren at other circuits, with the next race in Monaco also having similar characteristics.