Track Torque: Verstappen sneaks in ahead of Norris

Max Verstappen beat Lando Norris at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on the Imola track in Italy – but only just.

Verstappen got to the chequered flag only 0.725 seconds ahead of Norris in what was an exciting race all the way to the finish.

If there had been a few more laps, Norris might have done the trick, but Verstappen kept his cool.

We now have a much more exciting situation where either Red Bull, McLaren or Ferrari could win a race again.

After Norris, another eight seconds back, was Charles Leclerc in the first Ferrari and onto the podium, once again.

The second of the two McLarens, driven by Oscar Piastri, was fourth.

He had been very quick all weekend and should have made it in ahead of Leclerc on the podium.

Behind Piastri, after a very solid drive, was the other Ferrari driven by Carlos Sainz in fifth place.

Then came the two Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth place, ahead of George Russell in seventh.

Sergio Perez was next in his Red Bull, securing eighth position.

Lance Stroll, unlike his teammate Fernando Alonso, had a good race to bring his Aston Martin in the points into ninth place.

Alonso had a terrible weekend after going off in practice into the wall.

The mechanics had to do a full rebuild of his car, which turned out to be below par.

Yuki Tsunoda was home in tenth in his RB Honda after another solid drive.

This weekend, we move down to the Mediterranean for the jewel in the crown, the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo principality.

Royalty, glitz and glamour and lots of money will all be there.

The real question, though, is who will break the bank at Monte Carlo?

We all know that this narrow track around the houses makes it very difficult to overtake, hence qualifying is as important as the race.

Concentration and precision have to be inch perfect for all 78 laps of the 3.3km track.

Tactics and tyre strategy will have to be right for a win and, in motor racing language, you need a very strong front end, which turns in precisely at Monaco.

Any of the top 10 drivers who qualify well can do the trick, and a wet track, which is not impossible, makes it an even greater challenge.

It’s time to pull into Monte Carlo railway station once again!

Drivers:

1 Max Verstappen 161

2 Charles Leclerc 113

3 Sergio Perez 107

4 Lando Norris 101

5 Carlos Sainz 93

6 Oscar Piastri 53

7 George Russell 44

8 Lewis Hamilton 35

9 Fernando Alonso 33

10 Yuki Tsunoda 15

Team:

1 Red Bull 268

2 Ferrari 212

3 McLaren 154

4 Mercedes 79

5 Aston Martin 44

6 RB 20

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