British media notice an 'incredibly lucky' Verstappen in Imola despite Grand Prix victory

14:25, 19 May

Updated: 14:42, 19 May

byToby Nixon

This is how different British media outlets reacted to Max Verstappen's victory after Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Some praised Verstappen, whilst others pointed out that he was purely lucky in Imola.

Oscar Piastri was also advised after giving up the lead of the race to Verstappen in the first corner, and Lando Norris was praised for his overtake on his teammate to secure second place.

Lewis Hamilton was also given credit for his effort in Imola, as he charged to fourth place after a P12 start in his first race at home for Ferrari.

Verstappen catches McLaren 'by surprise' in Imola

Speaking on Verstappen's fourth consecutive victory in Imola, the BBC wrote: "Max Verstappen caught McLaren by surprise at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix to seal his second win of the year and lay down a reminder - as if one was needed - that he cannot be ruled out of this year's Formula 1 championship fight."

The BBC also noticed the fact that Verstappen also led the early stages of the race in Miami. On that occasion, he was caught and passed by both McLarens who clearly had more pace than the Red Bull. In Imola, that simply wasn't the case.

"Verstappen never looked like losing the race once he was in the lead. And while McLaren were left to rue some of what Piastri described as "wrong calls" during the race, they were also realistic enough to know that none of them would have made a difference to the outcome."

Verstappen in 'Lady Luck's good books'

The Sun, however, saw the Dutchman's victory in a different light, pointing out that Verstappen benefitted from both safety car interruptions. The first virtual safety car was when Esteban Ocon broke down, and then the full safety car came after Kimi Antonelli suffered a mechanical failure.

"Savvy Verstappen knew a flawless pit would keep him high enough to hold his lead. And, soon, things got even BETTER for him. A virtual safety car on Lap 29 after Esteban Ocon spun off track, provided the perfect chance for the Dutchman to stop and open up a 20-SECOND lead on Norris. But while the Red Bull ace was incredibly lucky, the opposite was true for Norris, who had pitted a lap before the opportune safety car.

Max Verstappen was pictured celebrating victory on the podium

The tabloid continued: "With Verstappen still leading, McLaren were smart enough to pit Piastri on Lap 31, with poor Russell down in 12th after starting third. Hamilton soon pipped past Antonelli and Hadjar by Lap 36 - to the sheer delight of the screaming Tifosi fans in the grandstands.

And soon Verstappen was back in Lady Luck's good books AGAIN. The Dutchman was handed another pit stop on a plate after Italian home favourite Antontelli’s race ended after peeling off track on Turn 7 of Lap 45."

Piastri warned by media: 'You do not leave a Red Bull-sized gap'

The Independent commented on McLaren's efforts at the Emilia Romagna GP. After starting from pole, Oscar Piastri finished in third place after Max Verstappen overtook him in the early stages. He soon fell into the grasp of teammate Lando Norris, who passed him after the second safety car restart.

"Brake too early at your peril. That’s the thought pole-sitter Oscar Piastri will take to Bologna airport on Sunday night, seeing 10 points pass him by in his title hunt. The clear favourite to romp home to victory in the speedy McLaren, the championship leader endured a tough lesson in first-lap combat here under the stunning Imola sunshine. Unambiguously, you do not leave a Red Bull-sized gap down the outside for a four-time F1 world champion."

The outlet also commented on the race of Norris, who remains in second in the world championship standings. "Lando Norris, starting in fourth, came home in second to narrow the gap to teammate Piastri in the standings to 13 points, benefiting from a late safety car and keeping it clean on an inevitable overtake on his teammate. Verstappen is now just nine points behind the Brit in third.

One thing that surprised the newspaper was that the Woking-based team did not allow Norris to pass Piastri earlier, a sentiment echoed by this former F1 world champion.

"McLaren, interestingly, opted not to swap their drivers in second and third after the safety car, despite Norris in third being on fresher tyres. Inevitably, the Briton passed his teammate but could not chase down the irrepressible flying Dutchman."

Hamilton's 'enthusiastic verve' in Imola shows what he could do if Ferrari delivered a 'better ride'

The Guardian wrote in-depth on the race of Lewis Hamilton. Fourth is the Brit's best performance for Ferrari in a Grand Prix so far. The seven-time champ was visibly happy with his performance.

"What had looked like a weekend to forget for Ferrari, after the devastation, as Lewis Hamilton described a woeful qualifying for the team at their home race, turned to perhaps the unlikeliest of celebrations. The Briton was finally able to revel in a shared joy with his team that has been truly short on the ground this season.

Hamilton recovered from 12th to 4th at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

"He returned fourth place, his best grand prix finish this season, from 12th on the grid after a race where Ferrari made the absolute most of their strategy and the seven-time champion ducked and dived, making pass after pass with an enthusiastic verve that hints at just what he might do if the team could deliver a better ride.

"A buoyant Hamilton was understandably in fine spirits afterwards, taking genuine pleasure in a hard-fought result in his first race for Ferrari in front of the Tifosi."