F1 Imola GP 2024 LIVE: Race results, standings and updates as Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris

Verstappen wins from pole at the Emilia Romagna GP despite Norris’ late surge for the win

Lando Norris returns to McLaren HQ after Miami Grand Prix triumph

Max Verstappen held off a dramatic Lando Norris fightback to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Verstappen crossed the line just 0.725 seconds clear of Norris in Imola to take his fifth victory from the seven rounds so far.

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, one place ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri with Carlos Sainz fifth. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished sixth and seventh respectively for Mercedes.

Verstappen looked to be on course to claim a comfortable win, but Norris’ superb charge in the closing stages left the Dutchman sweating inside his all-conquering Red Bull. After the sole round of pit-stops, Verstappen held a steady lead of around six seconds, but a turgid race suddenly came alive when Verstappen could offer little response to Norris’ speed.

Follow latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• Max Verstappen wins the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix; Norris 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
• Click HERE for the top-10 at Imola
• CLOSE! Norris almost catches Verstappen in the final laps
• START! Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris at the start
• Fernando Alonso started in the pit lane
• Oscar Piastri was handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Kevin Magnussen in qualifying
• PREVIEW: The key steps for Lando Norris to become an F1 title contender

[18 May 2024 16:18 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen:

“I’m incredibly happy to be on pole, didn’t expect that. We made some changes before qualifying.. I’m still pumping, adrenaline!

“Great start to the year.”

[18 May 2024 16:11 · Kieran Jackson]

TOP-10 FOR THE EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Lando Norris

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Carlos Sainz

6. George Russell

7. Yuki Tsunoda

8. Lewis Hamilton

9. Daniel Ricciardo

10. Nico Hulkenberg

[18 May 2024 16:04 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen on pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix!

Verstappen went even quicker - 1:14:746!

“Let’s go! A really good pole position! We’ve turned it around, that’s fantastic - really happy!”

Oscar Piastri is the closest man to him, a tenth behind, with Lando Norris third.

Disappointment for Ferrari, fourth and fifth.

Top-10: Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2024 15:57 · Kieran Jackson]

All the cars come out now!

Here we go then - they all come out for their second runs, all on new softs!

Can Max be beaten?!

Two minutes to go.

[18 May 2024 15:56 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen quickest after first set of runs

It’s tight... but it’s still Max!

Verstappen fastest with a 1:14:869, 0.073 secs quicker than Lando Norris in second! Charles Leclerc two-tenths further back in third.

4-10: Piastri, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo

It’s going to take something special from the frontrunners to beat Max’s time!

[18 May 2024 15:51 · Kieran Jackson]

Q3 underway!

Here we go then - who will take pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?!

10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg

[18 May 2024 15:46 · Kieran Jackson]

George Russell:

“I don’t know why you put us on a used set at the start, piles on the pressure for that last lap.”

Still, he’s though to Q3!

[18 May 2024 15:43 · Kieran Jackson]

Sergio Perez out in Q2!

Wow!

Daniel Ricciardo in 10th and Sergio Perez cannot beat the Aussie’s time!

Bottom-five and out in Q2 (11-15): Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Gasly

Russell and Hamilton squeeze through in P8 and P9.

“What a mess” Perez says!

TOP-3: Verstappen, Leclerc, Tsunoda

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2024 15:34 · Kieran Jackson]

Charles Leclerc goes faster than Verstappen

By 0.058 seconds! Not that it matters yet, but it’s useful heading into Q3!

Current bottom-five (11-15): Russell, Gasly, Ocon, Stroll, Albon

Yuki Tsunoda now surges up to P2! Lewis Hamilton down in P10, just above his team-mate.

Both Mercedes cars will put on a new set of soft tyres now though and *should* go quicker....

6:00 to go.

[18 May 2024 15:32 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen sets fastest time of weekend

Rapid. 1:15:386 puts Verstappen up top with the fastest lap of the weekend so far!

Perez five-tenths back in second, with Hulkenberg impressing again in third - above Hamilton and Russell.

9:00 left - around half the 15 cars yet to set a time out on track...