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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a dramatic Imola race over teammate Sergio Perez as Ferrari drivers couldn’t deliver on home turf and retired from the race here on Sunday.
However, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc spun late on to finish sixth after his teammate Spain’s Carlos Sainz retired from the race. Along with Sainz, compatriot Fernando Alonso was the other who could not finish the race.
The Dutchman Max Verstappen topped Saturday’s Sprint and led off the line on Sunday, teammate Perez joining him at the front – while Leclerc momentarily dropped to fourth.
The Safety Car emerged on the opening lap as Daniel Ricciardo tipped Carlos Sainz into the gravel and out of the race for the second Grand Prix.
With the track drying, drivers began to swap from interns to mediums on Lap 19 – Perez coming in before Max Verstappen, who led Leclerc into the pits one lap later. The Monegasque emerged just ahead of the Mexican, but Perez skated past for P2 with warmer tyres and then kept the Ferrari at bay.
A late gamble to pit for softs from P3 by Leclerc saw the Red Bull drivers follow suit and retain the lead, but on Lap 54 – again in chase of Perez – the championship leader spun and hit the wall at Variante Alta. He dropped down to ninth having had to pit for a new nose and softs, and recovered only to P6 at the flag.
Lando Norris, therefore, took the final podium place, promoted twice with Sainz retiring and Leclerc going off track.