Max Verstappen has not really had a as comfortable season start as in previous years. The four-time World Champion has only won one race out of the six initial ones, although he has often been on the podium.
But at Imola in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna's GP, the Dutchman put his foot down.
Verstappen started second behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri, but made a real nice overtaking move directly and was already leading after the first curve.
The start was not particularly good, but I kept to the outside, or the usual route, so I just thought now I'll go for it, simply, he says in Viaplay's broadcast.
Then the distance grew lap by lap, and the Dutchman seemed to be heading for a comfortable victory.
But with 18 laps left to drive, when Verstappen was leading by 19 seconds, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was forced to park his car at the side of the circuit, and therefore it was a safety car that closed the field again.
Not even that could stop the driver. Verstappen took his second victory of the season. Second place went to McLaren's Lando Norris and third place went to teammate Piastri.
Verstappen is third in the overall standings, 22 points behind Piastri. Next up is Monaco's prestigious GP.
