Max Verstappen won a dramatic wet-dry Emilia Romagna Grand Prix over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez as Ferrari could not deliver on home turf — Charles Leclerc spinning late on to finish sixth after Carlos Sainz retired yesteday.
The Dutchman topped Saturday's Sprint and led off the line on Sunday, teammate Perez joining him at the front — while Leclerc momentarily dropped to fourth.
The safety car emerged on the opening lap as Daniel Ricciardo tipped Sainz into the gravel and out of the race for the second Grand Prix.
With the track drying, drivers began to swap tyres from inters to mediums on lap 19 — Perez coming in before Verstappen, who led Leclerc into the pits one lap later.
The Monegasque emerged just ahead of the Mexican, but Perez skated past with warmer tyres and then kept the Ferrari at bay.
A late gamble to pit for softs from Leclerc saw the Red Bulls follow suit and retain the lead, but on lap 54 — again in chase of Perez — the championship leader spun and hit the wall at Variante Alta.
He dropped down to ninth having had to pit for a new nose and softs, and recovered only to sixth at the flag.
Lando Norris therefore took the final podium place, promoted twice with Sainz retiring and Leclerc going off track.
Mercedes' George Russell enjoyed a brilliant start and was up seven places to fourth as the chequered flag loomed, holding off Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas by under a second despite a late duel with the driver he replaced at the Silver Arrows.
Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh for AlphaTauri, passing Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel late on — while Leclerc finished ahead of the pair with his late rescue effort.
