Before the race there was a little drama, all wet: the slight possibility of rain and Williams' unable to find a leak from Albon's car prior to going to the grid. Everyone made it around the formation lap. Two rookies fell back two places off the start, Hadjar and Colapinto but Verstappen made it up one significant place to take the lead and did it convincingly.
Everyone held their place cleanly for a couple of laps before LeClerc decided to try and overtake his good friend Gasly, sending the Frenchman wide, over the gravel, dramatically bouncing across it and coming back on track five places later.
After eleven laps, Norris finally made it past Russell for a podium position, but the Mercedes tyres were going off badly and he was straight into the pits with Sainz, Ocon, Lawson and Gasly for an early switch onto the Hard tyres. Then Alonso came in with his brakes on fire and Piastri changed his strategy to pit too and it was slow.
Piastri soon began to scythe his way back up the placings. Those at the front (Verstappen, Norris, Albon, Hadjar) were all hanging on and waiting for a Safety Car. As he got up to 4th place, his team mate Norris pitted and came out in 7th. Simultaneously Ocon pulled his car to a stop at the side of the track on the team's instructions and a Virtual Safety Car was called for. This was perfect for Verstappen, slightly less so for Albon but LeClerc was swearing on the radio about how he always loses out. Suddenly many cars were in, with unsafe releases all around. Verstappen held the lead, ahead of Paistri, Norris, Alonso and Hadjar.
Whilst things were going well for Verstappen, his team mate Tsunoda was investigated for banging into Sainz, who was himself on the worse side of split strategy.
On Lap 46, we heard from Antonelli as he pulled off the track and onto the grass too: he had an issue. The teams got ready in the pit lane and a full Safety Car was called for. His car just stopped. LeClerc was negotiating with his team over getting some new tyres, he really wanted a fresh pair of Medium instead of his current ones that were wearing out. The maths said it was a bad idea and he promised to tidy his bedroom and do the washing up for a week. If McLaren pitted Norris, he would definitely be behind his team mate or they could leave him out and keep him ahead of Piastri which wouldn't seem fair. Albon didn't pit but the McLarens were past him and they decided not to risk it but he was behind LeClerc now, could he get past on fresh tyres? The Ferrari driver was worrying on the radio about whether everyone behind him would get past straight away as his tyres were in such bad nick. Norris was also arguing on the radio for permission to battle Piastri, commentating on the state of his tyres.
There were ten laps to go when the power was handed back over to Verstappen. Norris and Albon were noted for a Safety Car infringement. Norris didn't seem to be getting particularly close to Piastri and LeClerc was holding off Albon. A lot of incidents were noted during the race with no further investigation needed. On Lap 58, Norris made it past for second. When Albon finally tried, he went off across the gravel of a corner and Hamilton got past too. LeClerc let Hamilton through. It was a terrific defensive drive from LeClerc but he was told to give the position back. I don't think it was fair but as a Williams supporter, I'll take it.
Norris's pessimism seems misplaced, that his racecraft, along with a little luck and strategic help, is enough. He was very despondent with his second place over the radio after. Piastri was as excited in tone in his post-race interview as when he wins.
After a great race, surely the Imola track must return to the calendar.
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