2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Highlights

Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass performance at the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, securing his second victory of the season in commanding style. The Dutchman seized the lead early on, executing a breathtaking overtake at the Tamburello chicane to leapfrog polesitter Oscar Piastri. From there, Verstappen built a formidable lead, navigating through a race peppered with Virtual Safety Car and full Safety Car interventions.

The strategic dynamics unfolded dramatically as teams debated between one-stop and two-stop strategies. Verstappen’s decision to stay out longer before pitting paid dividends, allowing him to re-emerge with a substantial 20-second advantage after the Virtual Safety Car period. Later, a full Safety Car phase further tested strategies, but Verstappen maintained his composure, executing a flawless restart to secure Red Bull’s 400th Grand Prix start with a triumphant fourth consecutive win at Imola.

Behind Verstappen, Lando Norris showcased his prowess with a strong performance, clinching second place ahead of a hard-charging Lewis Hamilton. Alex Albon continued Williams’ resurgence with a solid fifth-place finish, while Charles Leclerc battled to sixth for Ferrari after a spirited duel with George Russell of Mercedes.

In the midfield, rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with a ninth-place finish for Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda salvaged a point for Red Bull after a challenging weekend. Fernando Alonso endured a tough race for Aston Martin, finishing outside the points, while Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson rounded out the top positions for Alpine and Racing Bulls respectively.

The race also saw retirements, including Esteban Ocon and Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 at Imola. Verstappen’s dominance underscored Red Bull’s competitive edge, setting the stage for an exhilarating championship battle ahead.

An action-packed, incident-filled race brought an electrifying weekend to a close—one that marked the competitive debut of the all-new C6 tyre compound. With so much data gathered over these three intense days, a deep analysis is now crucial. The insights will be invaluable, especially as we look ahead to the second half of the season, where tyre selection could play an even more pivotal role.

One clear takeaway? The decision to bring a trio of compounds one step softer than last year was absolutely the right call. In the early phase of the race, before safety cars and neutralisations reshuffled the deck, we witnessed how sensitive race strategy had become. With most drivers carefully managing their pace, all it took was one bold move to spark a domino effect.

That moment came when Charles Leclerc opted for an early pit stop on lap 10, catching many off guard. His undercut, paired with fresh tyres and clean air, proved highly effective, gaining him significant track position. Teams were forced to reevaluate on the fly: some committed to a long first stint targeting a one-stop strategy, while others scrambled to cover Ferrari’s move.

Of course, the chaos of the second half makes it difficult to assess the full impact of such early stops. Would they have worked over a full race distance? Or forced a switch to a two-stopper? We may never know. What we do know is this: the softer compounds added complexity, flexibility, and intrigue, offering more strategic paths in terms of both stint length and number of stops.

As the season unfolds, expect these tyre decisions to become even more decisive. This weekend was just the beginning. 🔥🏁

The day on the track: Strategy, Stints, and Smart Stops

As anticipated, the Hard and Medium compounds dominated the tyre strategy on race day, with teams steering clear of the Softs in favour of durability and control. The tyre choices at the start offered a glimpse into the different strategic gambles unfolding across the grid.

Five drivers opted for the Medium (C4) compound to kick off their race: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Ollie Bearman (Haas), and Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber). The rest of the field committed to the Hard (C5) tyre for their opening stints.

Tyre Usage Breakdown

• Hard (C5): 812 laps completed (67.39%)

• Medium (C4): 393 laps completed (32.61%)

The endurance test saw several drivers push their tyres to the limit, with the longest stints on both compounds reaching 34 laps. On the C4, that distance was matched by Russell, Alonso, Gasly, Leclerc, Lawson, and Sainz. Meanwhile, Tsunoda and Hulkenberg mirrored that feat on the C5, showcasing impressive tyre management.

Pit Stop Strategies

Out of the drivers who reached the finish line:

• Two drivers managed with just one stop – Tsunoda and Hulkenberg, underlining a calculated approach that paid off.

• Bortoleto took a more aggressive route, stopping three times.

• All other finishers made two stops, with many capitalising on at least one Safety Car intervention to minimise time loss.

From compound choices to pit timing, strategy was the silent hero of the day. While raw pace matters, this race proved, once again, that tyre management and tactical nous often make the ultimate difference.

2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Race Results

2025 Constructor Standings

Here are the team-by-team highlights:

Hear from McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella after the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Oscar slips behind Verstappen as the lights go out, while Lando maintains fourth off the line. Lando quickly applies pressure to third-placed Russell and makes a bold move stick around the outside at the Villeneuve chicane, taking P3.

On Lap 13, Oscar dives into the pits for a switch to the Hard compound, rejoining in 11th behind Tsunoda. The Japanese driver attempts to defend, but Oscar makes a decisive move to snatch P10.

Oscar continues his charge through the field, climbing to third just before Lando pits from second on Lap 28 for a set of Hards. Moments later, Ocon comes to a halt off track, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Oscar seizes the opportunity to pit again for fresh Hards, rejoining in P4.

As racing resumes, Oscar wastes no time overtaking Albon to reclaim third. Lando sits ahead in second, 13 seconds up the road. Soon after, Antonelli stops on track, bringing out a full Safety Car. Lando pits again for Hards and slots back out in third, just behind Oscar.

At the restart, Oscar and Lando hold second and third positions, respectively. With five laps remaining, Lando makes his move, overtaking Oscar to secure P2. The McLaren duo crosses the line in second and third, wrapping up a strong double podium finish.

Lando Norris, Driver, McLaren Racing

It was a good race – I’m really pleased with the P2 finish. It wasn’t easy to overtake, but we did what we could. Max was quick; of course, we would have loved to be there fighting him, but they had a bit more pace than we did. Oscar and I had a fun battle, but we raced each other well and maximised what we could. For us as a team, the second and third are great. We go again next week.

Oscar Piastri, Driver, McLaren Racing

A double podium is a good result for the team. On my side, it’s always a bit disappointing to start on the Pole and then not win the race, but we didn’t quite have the pace, and Max was quick. When we made the call to pit early, the two-stop strategy seemed to make the most sense as the tyres didn’t have the pace, but we couldn’t maximise it after and were unlucky with the VSC and Safety Car. There are a few things to review, but we have a solid chunk of points. We’ll debrief and then turn our attention to Monaco.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren Racing

We leave Imola with a good haul of points as a team. Coming into the weekend, we knew the track layout and the ambient conditions would make this a much closer race, but we were a little surprised by how strong the Red Bull was today – congratulations to Max.

The race was decided on the first lap, with Max overtaking Oscar. From there, we tried to unlock various scenarios to retake the lead. Lando maximised the stint on the Medium and drove an excellent race. With Oscar, we deviated to a two-stop strategy. Had the Hard tyres behaved just a little bit better, this would have been a strong strategy, but that’s something we have to judge with hindsight. Going for victory always involves some risk; sometimes, when you take a risk, there’s a downside. He made some great overtakes to respond to the various factors in the race. The drivers battled cleanly and fairly, ultimately culminating in a double podium for the team.

The team worked hard this weekend, produced two reliable cars and put us in the Pole position. Overall, it was a positive weekend for McLaren, and we look forward to the next race in Monaco.

George Russell brought home a solid P7 finish at the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli was forced to retire following a loss of throttle control, cutting short what had been a promising race for the young driver.

Both drivers opted for alternate strategies heading into the race: George began from P3 on the used Medium compound he set his Q3 time on, while Kimi started from P13 on the more durable Hard tyres.

A strong launch saw both drivers make early gains, but rear tyre overheating soon hampered their progress. For George, that led to an early pit stop on lap 11 for a fresh set of Hards, committing him to a less-than-ideal two-stop strategy.

A mid-race Virtual Safety Car offered a brief opportunity, allowing both drivers to pit again and fit a second set of Hard tyres. However, the timing left the pair just outside the top five as the race settled back into rhythm.

Unfortunately, Kimi’s afternoon came to a premature end when a throttle issue forced him to retire just before the deployment of the Safety Car. Once racing resumed with 10 laps to go, George showed grit and control, battling on worn tyres to bring the car home in P7.

It was a challenging day at Imola, but we regroup quickly as the team shifts focus to the glamour and grit of Monaco—next up in this intense European triple-header.

George Russell, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Today was a tough one, and P7 is certainly not where we aim to be. I struggled with the rear end of the car right from the start and couldn’t find a consistent rhythm throughout the race. The high track temperatures caused our rear axle to overheat, making it difficult to keep the tyres in the optimal performance window. That lack of balance and grip really compromised our pace — we simply couldn’t match the front-runners, so today was all about damage limitation.

Still, we’ll take what we learned from this weekend and quickly shift our focus to Monaco. I’m really looking forward to getting back on track there. We’ve shown strong and consistent qualifying form this season, and that one-lap performance will be key next weekend. Monaco is all about Saturday, and I feel confident in what we can deliver.

Kimi Antonelli, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Ending my first home Grand Prix with a DNF is a bitter pill to swallow — it’s never how you want to finish a race, especially not here at Imola. But despite the disappointment, I’ll carry some very special memories from this weekend. The support from the fans has been nothing short of incredible. Every lap, I could hear and feel their encouragement, even when things weren’t going our way.

We simply didn’t have the pace to challenge the top five today. I got a strong launch off the line, especially considering we started on the Hard tyre, and I managed to keep Lewis (Hamilton) behind me for a while. We took advantage of the Virtual Safety Car to make our stop, but soon after that, I started experiencing a throttle issue. I began losing power on the straights, and it kept worsening lap by lap until we had no choice but to retire the car. Still, we have a chance to bounce back immediately in Monaco, and we’ll take the lessons from today into that race.

Bradley Lord, Team Representative

This was, without a doubt, our most difficult Grand Prix of the season so far. A P7 finish and a DNF fall well below the standards we set for ourselves as a team.

George reported a lack of rear stability from the opening laps, which led to overheating and accelerated degradation of the rear tyres. That forced us into an early stop and a two-stop strategy. He made his second stop under the Virtual Safety Car triggered by Esteban’s retirement and managed to claw his way back into the points. During the Safety Car period following Kimi’s DNF, we opted to stay out. George fought hard to the end — he couldn’t hold off Lewis’s fresher-tyred Ferrari but did well to maintain position and bring home some points.

For Kimi, we opted for an alternate strategy, starting on the Hard compound. He made up a position at the start and was holding his ground well. After pitting under the VSC for Mediums, he was managing the tyres effectively until a throttle issue emerged. It gradually worsened and ultimately led to his retirement on lap 45 — his first DNF in Formula 1.

Overall, today was a sobering performance. Despite George’s strong qualifying, we lacked the race pace to compete with the cars around us, largely due to rear axle overheating. Our immediate priority is to understand the root cause of our tyre performance issues and make full use of the opportunity to rebound next weekend in Monaco.

Verstappen makes an early move count to win the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen produced a brilliant start from second on the grid to surge past Oscar Piastri and manage the race masterfully to bank his second win of the 2025 season, the fastest lap and close the title gap to the Australian to just 22 points.

The Dutchman and the garage delivered the goods at Imola on Sunday as Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Yuki Tsunoda recovered from Saturday’s qualifying crash to claim a point in 10th.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

Taking the win here feels absolutely fantastic. The start wasn’t ideal, but turn two definitely made up for it! Once we got into the lead, we really showed the potential and pace of the car—I was able to push confidently throughout the race. Honestly, it turned out to be much more promising than I expected, which is a great sign for us. The car felt much more stable, and it’s clear we’ve made real progress with the setup.

I managed the tyres well and felt strong on both compounds, which was key. During the Virtual Safety Car, it took a bit of time for the track to be cleared, but luckily, we were able to pit, which worked in our favour. It felt like a bit of a reset, and with Oscar on used tyres, I was able to build a solid gap.

I’m really happy with this result. From the Team’s side, everything was spot-on—strong strategy, slick pit stops, and calm, clear communication across the board. That’s exactly what you need for a successful race weekend.

This was a big one for us, and it’s great to see that the upgrades delivered real performance. Massive thanks to everyone, both trackside and back at the factory—this win makes our 400th race together even more special. Now the goal is to carry what we learned today into future races.

It’s been a really positive weekend overall. We’ll keep pushing, keep improving—and yes, we’ll enjoy this one tonight!

Yuki Tsunoda, Driver, Red Bull Racing

It was a tough weekend overall, but I’m really proud of how we pulled through. Massive respect to the mechanics for the incredible effort getting the car ready after yesterday—I’m grateful I could repay them with at least a point. It might only be one, but every point counts, and it means something to the whole Team.

I was still frustrated after what happened on Saturday, but I managed to reset and give it all today. Starting from the pit lane and finishing in the top 10 shows the progress we’ve made. We took a big step with our Qualifying setup this weekend, and even though we didn’t change much on the car overnight, it felt good to get more laps and learn more about the race performance.

I tried to hold off the McLaren as long as I could, but they had the edge with fresher tyres. The safety cars also added some drama and reshuffled things a bit. There’s still more for me to adapt to in the car, but I’m staying focused—next up is Monaco, and I’ll be pushing to improve in Qualifying and score solid results in the coming races.

And of course, huge congrats to Max on the win and to the whole Team for a strong result today!

CHRISTIAN HORNER, CEO and Team Principal

What a phenomenal win for Max in Imola – the perfect way to mark our 400th Grand Prix and secure a fourth consecutive victory at this iconic circuit. The entire team performed truly well. Max executed a sensational move into Turn 1 to seize the lead and never looked back, while our crew delivered a flawless pit stop at just the right moment to seal a clinical win.

Credit also to Yuki, who showed real determination and skill by fighting his way into the points from a pit lane start. The Team worked through the night to rebuild his car after Qualifying, and their efforts paid off.

All in all, a fantastic milestone weekend – 400 races and a result that sets us up perfectly as we look ahead to Monaco next week.

The Scuderia Ferrari HP duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc delivered a spirited charge through the field in a thrilling, incident-filled 2024 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, gaining eight and five positions respectively. Hamilton crossed the line in fourth place, while Leclerc secured sixth, earning a valuable 20 points for the team. On a circuit notorious for limited overtaking opportunities, the SF-25 demonstrated competitive race pace on both the Medium and Hard compound tyres.

The Race Recap

Following a challenging qualifying session, the team adopted an aggressive race strategy, splitting tyre choices between the drivers—Leclerc started 11th on Mediums, while Hamilton began 12th on Hards. Charles made an assertive start, overtaking Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly to run ninth before pitting on lap 10 for Hard tyres, rejoining in clean air. The strategic undercut proved effective, propelling him up the order with consistent pace.

The race dynamic shifted on lap 29 when Esteban Ocon retired, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Ferrari seized the opportunity to pit both cars—Hamilton switched to Mediums, while Leclerc took on a fresh set of Hards for the final stint. Upon the restart, Hamilton emerged in seventh and Leclerc in tenth. Both SF-25s made swift progress, overtaking the Aston Martins, Antonelli, and Hadjar to move into fifth and sixth, respectively.

Drama returned on lap 46 when Kimi Antonelli stopped in a difficult recovery spot, prompting a full Safety Car. Ferrari brought Hamilton in for another set of Hard tyres, benefiting from reduced pit lane time, while Leclerc remained out and inherited fourth. At the restart, Hamilton used his fresh tyres to pass George Russell and began closing in on Alex Albon, who was battling Leclerc.

On lap 60, Albon challenged Leclerc into the first chicane. Charles defended robustly, forcing the Williams driver to cut the corner—an action that allowed Hamilton to sneak through and later overtake his teammate for fourth. In the closing laps, Lewis hunted down third-placed Oscar Piastri, who was managing worn tyres, but the Australian held firm under pressure.

Meanwhile, Leclerc was instructed to cede position to Albon after the incident at the chicane was placed under investigation. Avoiding a potential time penalty was crucial to preserving his sixth-place finish and the team’s overall points haul.

Next Stop: Monaco

With the race weekend wrapped, the team heads briefly back to Maranello before turning focus to Round 8 in Monaco—Charles Leclerc’s much-anticipated home Grand Prix. The streets of Monte Carlo await, and with momentum building, Scuderia Ferrari HP aims to continue its strong form.

Charles Leclerc, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

Some days, things just don’t fall into place—and today was one of those days. We were really unlucky with the timing of the Virtual and Full Safety Cars. I wasn’t able to capitalise on the first one, and for the second, we didn’t have the ideal tyres available.

Still, no regrets. P6 isn’t terrible, especially considering how tough this weekend has been. But of course, this isn’t the result we’re aiming for.

Our priority now is to improve our qualifying pace, because the car has strong race performance.

Next up is Monaco—a track that always brings unique challenges. It’s a circuit that highlights a car’s limitations, and setup is unlike anywhere else. Hopefully, we can turn that to our advantage and deliver a result that counts.

Lewis Hamilton, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

Today, I truly felt at one with the car—something I’ve been chasing since the Sprint in China. Everything clicked: the strategy, the pit stops, the car’s balance—it all came together in perfect harmony. That allowed us to recover strongly from a less-than-ideal qualifying position.

There’s still work to do, especially over a single lap, but if we keep building on days like this, we’ll be right in the fight for podiums.

Grazie mille, tifosi—your energy and passion mean the world. I hope we made you proud today.

Frédéric Vasseur – Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari

There were positives to take from today—our race pace was consistently strong, the strategy was solid, and pit stops were executed well.

Naturally, there’s frustration too. With better qualifying, we could’ve finished higher. That’s now three or four races where the gap between our qualifying and race pace has been significant. It’s a clear area we need to address.

Lewis ran a very strong race—fast, consistent, and with some excellent overtakes. Charles, unfortunately, was caught up in the timing of both the Virtual and Full Safety Cars. I completely understand his frustration.

At the point the Safety Car came out, it was too early to switch to Softs, so leaving him on Hards was the most sensible call. In the closing laps, we asked Charles to give back position to Albon to mitigate the risk of a post-race penalty, which could’ve cost us several more positions.

Get the thoughts of Lance, Fernando and the team from the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend.

The drivers held position at lights out, with Fernando running in P5 and Lance in P8.

Both showed good pace in the early stages to keep themselves well inside the top 10 before the first set of pit stops, as the team sought to complete a one-stop strategy.

However, the unfortunate timing of a Virtual Safety Car period following Esteban Ocon’s retirement, combined with competitors around us pitting for fresh tyres, meant we had a tyre deficit as we opted to stay out to avoid sacrificing track position.

Those with fresher tyres found their way past our two drivers, who battled hard to keep the position as much as possible.

A late Safety Car period after Andrea Kimi Antonelli retired allowed Lance and Fernando to pit, change tyres and then try to reclaim some positions as the field bunched up.

Fernando crossed the finish line in P11 at the chequered flag, narrowly missing out on a points finish, whilst Lance classified in P15.

Despite the result, there are still some positives to take. The team saw signs of progress with our new update package applied to the AMR25 across the weekend.

Fernando Alonso, Driver, Aston Martin F1 Team

The car felt really strong today, and I was having a solid race—until the Virtual Safety Car flipped everything on its head.

Without that VSC, I believe we were in the mix for P6 or P7 and could have scored points on pace alone. After the restart, we found ourselves outside the points, but I managed to pass three cars in nine laps. Unfortunately, we just ran out of time. It’s a tough result to take, but we’re showing good signs, and hopefully, luck swings our way next time.

Lance Stroll, Driver, Aston Martin F1 Team

The race got off to a decent start—I was able to pull away from Gasly and stay close to Albon ahead.

Unfortunately, things turned against us with the Virtual Safety Car. The timing didn’t work in our favour, and from that point on, the race just didn’t unfold the way we needed. Without the VSC, we might have had a real shot at scoring points, so it’s a frustrating and disappointing outcome.

Now the focus shifts to Monaco. It’s a unique circuit, and we’ll be looking to build on the improvements we’ve seen from our latest updates.

Andy Cowell, CEO & Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team

We were agonizingly close to scoring points, but the racing gods weren’t with us today. Our one-stop strategy was looking strong until the Virtual Safety Car threw a wrench in the plan, dropping both Fernando and Lance out of points contention. In hindsight, an extra stop under the VSC might’ve helped, but at the time, we didn’t want to give up track position. From there, it was difficult to hold off rivals on fresher tyres.

Still, there are plenty of positives to take. The upgrades have delivered tangible performance gains and set a clear direction for the team moving forward. Both drivers delivered faultless performances, and that deserves recognition. Now, all eyes are on Monaco—a completely different kind of challenge, but one we’re ready to face.

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar finished just ahead of the Japanese racer in ninth for two points, while his Kiwi teammate Liam Lawson ended the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 14th.

Liam Lawson, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

Naturally, I’m quite disappointed for both myself and the team. We got caught out by the safety cars, which really compromised our race. The potential was definitely there, and the pace had been solid all weekend, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to show it when it counted. It’s been a challenging weekend overall, but I’m committed to working hard and turning things around. With every session, I’m learning more about the car and growing in confidence. We’re moving in the right direction. Now, I’m looking forward to Monaco—such an iconic and special circuit. It’ll be my first time racing there, and I know I’ll need to get up to speed quickly, but I’m excited for the challenge and eager to get back behind the wheel.

Isack Hadjar, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

It’s been a positive weekend here in Imola, and I’m pleased with my overall performance. The race got off to a tough start—I lost two positions off the line, which certainly didn’t help our chances, and it’s something I’ll focus on improving. That said, the car pace was strong, and I’m particularly proud of how we managed the tyres throughout the race. At one point, we were running P7, and it looked like we’d bring it home there, but the safety car changed the dynamic. It’s a bit frustrating, but we’ll go over everything with the team to see if there was anything we could’ve done differently. Scoring a couple of points feels good, and I’m proud of the job the team has done all weekend. Looking ahead, racing in Monaco as a rookie will be a huge challenge—but an exciting one. I’ve been dreaming about driving an F1 car there for the first time, and I can’t wait to get started.

Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, VCARB F1 Team

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Oliver Bearman 17th, while Esteban Ocon was forced to retire at the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon, Driver, Haas F1 Team

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team

Atlassian Williams Racing continued their strong run of form in 2025, kicking off the European leg of the season with an impressive double points finish at the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix — P5 and P8 — bringing home 14 valuable points.

In a clear sign of the team’s upward trajectory since his arrival, Alex Albon was left slightly disappointed not to leave Imola with a podium, despite a stellar drive that saw him running among the front-runners for much of the race. Ultimately, Albon crossed the line in fifth, while Carlos Sainz delivered a strong recovery to P8 after an early pit stop strategy call.

With the high degradation of the C6 Pirelli tyres, strategy became the defining factor of what is typically a straightforward one-stop race. Both drivers started on the medium compound, holding their P6 and P7 grid positions through a clean opening lap.

Carlos showed a stronger pace than Fernando Alonso ahead, but Imola once again proved its reputation as one of the hardest circuits for overtaking, especially with the cars running heavy fuel loads early on. In response, the team opted to pit Carlos early on Lap 11, aiming to undercut Alonso’s Aston Martin, while Albon was left out longer to capitalise on clear air and stretch his opening stint.

With George Russell pitting alongside Carlos and Alonso boxing a lap later, all three temporarily dropped down the order, opening the track for Albon to push in clean air. While Alonso managed to stay ahead of the undercut, Carlos eventually fought his way past his fellow Spaniard and closed in rapidly on Russell as the FW47 thrived on Imola’s narrow, technical layout.

Alex Albon, Driver, Williams Racing

Carlos Sainz, Driver, Williams Racing

Alpine F1 Team 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Sunday Race Report

Pierre Gasly
🟩 Started: P10 | 🟥 Finished: P13
🛞 Tyres: New Medium → New Hard (Lap 9) → New Hard (Lap 29)
⏱️ Fastest Lap: 1:20.398

Franco Colapinto
🟩 Started: P16 | 🟥 Finished: P16
🛞 Tyres: New Medium → New Hard (Lap 22) → New Hard (Lap 46)
⏱️ Fastest Lap: 1:20.345

Franco Colapinto, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

Our pace was genuinely encouraging today, but unfortunately, the strategy didn’t play out in our favour. I was comfortable on the Mediums and planned for a one-stop. But the Virtual Safety Car came just after my stop, which put me at a disadvantage—others got free stops while I already had laps on my Hards.

When the full Safety Car came later, it made things even tougher. Most drivers had fresh tyres while I was already managing wear. Still, we gathered valuable data, and I’m gaining more confidence with every lap.

Monaco is up next—it’s a high-confidence circuit and I’m not quite there yet, but I’m learning fast and looking forward to the challenge.

Pierre Gasly, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

Overall, I’m frustrated with how the race unfolded. I had a great launch and climbed to P9 early, engaging in a tough battle with Charles [Leclerc]. I tried to go wide into Turn 9 while Charles came up the inside, but I misjudged the grip levels. I couldn’t hold the corner and dropped five positions—it was a costly mistake that shouldn’t have happened.

We opted for a two-stop strategy, which looked promising. We were on course to battle the one-stoppers toward the end, but the late Safety Car handed a free stop to others, leaving us short on tyre life when it mattered most.

Despite the result, the car felt strong throughout the weekend, especially in Qualifying trim. We’ll aim to play to our strengths and bounce back in Monaco, where Saturday is everything.

Flavio Briatore

We were well-positioned for points today, especially with Franco on the one-stop plan. But the timing of the Virtual Safety Car handed rivals a free stop, which ultimately altered the race outcome. These things happen in Formula 1.

Despite the setbacks, the team showed solid pace and promise. Now, we head to Monaco—one of my home races—where we’ll regroup and look to seize another opportunity to compete at the front.

Progress and frustration for the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber in the thrilling 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It was a weekend of mixed emotions for the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber at Imola, marked by strategic gambles, gritty drives, and the fine margins that define Formula 1.

The team rolled the dice with a split-strategy approach, which initially paid off for Nico Hülkenberg. Starting 17th on the hard compound tyres, Nico delivered a composed and tactical race. A well-timed pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car on lap 30 saw him vault into the top ten, eyeing a strong points finish. But as the race reached its climax, a late neutralisation reshuffled the pack—pushing Nico just outside the points in P12 after a commendable charge.

Gabriel Bortoleto showed early pace and potential on the other side of the garage. However, higher-than-anticipated tyre degradation forced a shift to a two-stop strategy. A lack of grip on the medium compound post-safety car stifled his momentum, and despite his efforts, Gabi crossed the line in P18.

With Imola in the rear-view mirror, the team now sets its sights on the most iconic challenge of the season: the Monaco Grand Prix. Precision, bravery, and execution will be key on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Nico Hulkenberg, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

This was definitely one of my stronger races this year. We were noticeably more competitive than at previous weekends, and I felt more comfortable in the car compared to Friday and Saturday. The timing of the virtual safety car was fortunate, putting us in a position to fight for points. Unfortunately, the safety car late in the race didn’t work in our favour. At the restart, I found myself surrounded by faster cars on fresher tyres, and I just couldn’t hold off Yuki (Tsunoda) or Fernando (Alonso). Ultimately, a combination of factors kept us from scoring points. We still have some ground to make up on pure pace, but with margins this tight, even small improvements can have a huge impact.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Today’s race was definitely challenging. On the bright side, our pace was solid, especially on the hard tyres, which was encouraging. The first stint was going well until the Virtual Safety Car came at an unfortunate time and disrupted our momentum significantly. After that, it was tough to capitalise on any opportunities. It’s frustrating to feel like we were in the wrong place at the wrong time for most of the race. Still, I’m pleased with the progress we made in pace, even if the results don’t fully reflect it. Now, it’s time to dig into the data, learn from our mistakes, and come back stronger in Monaco next week.

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Ultimately, it’s a race full of mixed emotions. After the safety car period, it looked like Nico had a real shot at scoring points. Holding off a Red Bull is never easy, and unfortunately, the car’s balance deteriorated, which saw Nico finish in P12. Gabi started P14, and we went into the race with high hopes. However, we were a bit slow to react to the tyre degradation and had to switch to a two-stop strategy mid-race — a call that cost us dearly until the checkered flag. The decision to try the medium tyres after the safety car also didn’t pay off; those tyres simply weren’t up to the challenge, and we lost crucial track position, with Gabi ending up in P18. We need to thoroughly review our internal processes and apply what we’ve learned swiftly as we prepare for the next rounds in Monaco and Barcelona.