Formula One world champion Max Verstappen won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola on Sunday. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The Dutch racer rekindled his title defense with an accomplished victory. This is Verstappen’s second win of the Formula 1 2022 season. Earlier, the Red Bull driver won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
This was Verstappen’s 21st Grand Prix win of his career. He also claimed his 61st podium finish. Notably, this is Dutchman’s second successive win here at the Emilia Romagna. Verstappen produced a good comeback after retiring in the previous race at the Australian GP.
In a rain-affected race, the pole-sitting 24-year-old Dutch racer crossed the finish line more than 16 seconds ahead of his teammate. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was aiming for a podium finish but a blender error saw him go off the track. Charles Leclerc and Ferrari endured a disappointing day in front of the passionate home crowd at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Leclerc, who started second on the grid, finished sixth after making a poor start. Leclerc spun in the closing laps while running third, and allowed Lando Norris to take the final podium place for McLaren. George Russell produced a stirring drive for Mercedes to come home fourth and ensured points for the fourth successive race. He fended off Valtteri Bottas’s Alfa Romeo at the finish. Russell’s team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished a distant 14th.
Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton struggled from the start and was lapped by Verstappen. The British racing driver has earned just one podium finish in 2022. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz retired after a clash with Daniel Ricciardo on lap one.
Leclerc tops the points tally with 79 and has a 28-point lead over Verstappen (51). Russell is in the third spot with 49 points. Perez is in fourth after having collected 48 points. Sainz (33), Norris (31), Hamilton (28), Bottas (22), Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (20), and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (14) complete the Top 10.
Joining the likes of Lionel Messi in football, Roger Federer in tennis, and F1 drivers Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton, the 24-year-old Red Bull F1 driver Max Verstappen won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the year 2022 on Sunday. Verstappen claimed 10 pole positions, 10 victories, and had a record 18 times podium finishes last season.
