F1: Verstappen in huge haul – Gulf Digital News

F1: Verstappen in huge haul – Gulf Digital News

World champion Max Verstappen took maximum points from Formula One’s Imola sprint weekend, leading a Red Bull one-two on Sunday as Ferrari’s homecoming turned sour for overall leader Charles Leclerc and his Italian team.

Mexican Sergio Perez finished 16.527 seconds behind the Dutch driver, with Lando Norris repeating last year’s third place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to claim McLaren’s first podium of the season.

Championship leader Leclerc, winner of two of the first three races, fought back to sixth place after a late spin on a drying track while running in third.

His Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz saw his race end in the gravel after an opening lap collision with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen, who took the maximum eight points on Saturday for winning a sprint race from pole, also took a bonus point on Sunday for the fastest lap and is now 27 points adrift of Leclerc.

“That was a very lovely Sunday,” the 24-year-old said over the team radio after leading from start to finish for his second win of a season in which he has also suffered two retirements.

“It’s always tough to achieve something like that but already yesterday, and the day before, we were on it and it