Oscar Piastri was flying high after snagging pole at the, but the Emilia Romagna GP became a nightmare. He played it too safe at the start, leaving just enough room for Verstappen to swoop in and steal the lead at Turn 1—a move George Russell called “bound to happen” if Piastri didn’t shut the door.

Max Verstappen secured a brilliant victory at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, taking the lead in stunning fashion by overtaking Oscar Piastri on the first turn before holding it to the line even as a safety car changed the complexion of the race late on.

Max Verstappen added another coat of steel to his reputation as F1's fastest and boldest driver and confirmed a need for "old school" circuits with his commanding fourth consecutive win at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on Sunday.