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

[19 May 2024 14:17 · Kieran Jackson]

Alex Albon in trouble! (Lap 10/63)

Albon: “I’ve got a problem, the tyre is not on properly.”

He is going slowly for Williams! He’s just pitted, can he make it back around?

[19 May 2024 14:14 · Kieran Jackson]

Carlos Sainz:

“McLaren is fast.”

A nervous Ferrari driver with Oscar Piastri right on his gearbox!

[19 May 2024 14:13 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen opens up a two-second lead (Lap 7/63)

Verstappen lapping quicker than Norris right now, with a lead bang on two seconds.

Leclerc 1.4 secs off Norris, with Sainz a second further back.

Closest battle is Piastri in fifth, who is half-a-second off Sainz - but overtaking is tricky here with just one DRS zone!

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

[19 May 2024 14:08 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris has DRS behind Max Verstappen (Lap 3/63)

The McLaren just about keeping in DRS range, 0.8 secs off Verstappen.

But all the cars pretty smoothly through the opening laps so far!

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

Leclerc around a second off Norris, with Sainz just half-a-second off his team-mate!

[19 May 2024 14:05 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen retains the lead at the start! (Lap 1/63)

It’s lights out - and Verstappen and Norris got away evenly, but the Red Bull keeps the lead heading into Tamburello!

Every car got a clean run - and Lewis Hamilton is up to seventh!

Yuki Tsunoda drops to P9, with Nico Hulkenberg up to eighth

[19 May 2024 14:01 · Kieran Jackson]

Formation lap!

Max Verstappen leads the pack around for the formation lap!

Everybody on the medium tyre to start aside than Sergio Perez in 11th, who is on the hard tyre.

It’s set to be a one-stop race, hence the near-identity strategy amongst the drivers.

It’s time for race No 7!

[19 May 2024 13:58 · Kieran Jackson]

Starting grid for F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

1. Max Verstappen

2. Lando Norris

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Oscar Piastri*

6. George Russell

7. Yuki Tsunoda

8. Lewis Hamilton

9. Daniel Ricciardo

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Sergio Perez

12. Esteban Ocon

13. Lance Stroll

14. Alex Albon

15. Pierre Gasly

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Kevin Magnussen

18. Zhou Guanyu

19. Logan Sargeant

Pit lane - Fernando Alonso**

*Piastri was handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Magnussen in qualifying

**Fernando Alonso will now start in the pit-lane after changing his car setup

[19 May 2024 13:58 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix LIVE:

Here we go then!

It’s an Imola circuit baked in sunshine, with no rain on the radar!

Can Max Verstappen hold the lead at the start? We’re about to find out!

[19 May 2024 13:55 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen:

“It’s a bit unknown on the long runs. We had a better balance in qualifying so naturally that will help, we don’t know.

“We’ll see now.”

Can the Red Bull hold off Lando Norris at the start?

(Getty Images)

[19 May 2024 13:52 · Kieran Jackson]

Fernando Alonso:

“It’s more a learning session for us, it’ll be difficult to take some points. We need some conclusions.”

Alonso starts in the pit lane today...