Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 Imola Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen claimed an eighth consecutive F1 pole position, matching the all-time record held by Ayrton Senna, as Oscar Piastri dropped from the front row to fifth place after picking up a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in qualifying.
Thank you for joining us this afternoon, we'll head off now and think what could've been if Norris had just a couple more laps to attack Verstappen. Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday and go well!
Leclerc on his maiden podium at Imola: "Yes, at least it is a podium but I am only very happy when I win and today we didn't quite make it. We were very fast at the beginning of the stint with hard and I tried to put some pressure on Lando but later they were incredibly quick."
More from Norris: "I think we are at a point now where he can happily say we are in the position of Ferrari and Red Bull, it is what we have to get used to and the team is doing a really good job. We will continue to do what we've been doing but now we are fighting for first or second. It is still a surprise to say it is frustrating not to win but after last weekend [Miami] and now this is what we should expect"
Norris when asked if he felt he could've won with a few more laps: "Yes, it hurts me to say it but one or two more laps and I think I could've had him. Tough. A shame, I fought very hard right until the very last lap but I lost out too much at the beginning, he was much better in the first stint, but the second stint we were stronger."
As the fans flood onto the track, Verstappen gives his take on his latest win: "The whole race I had to try and make a gap initially. On the medium tyres we were strong but the hard tyres were harder to manage. Especially on the last 10-15 laps I had no grip, I was sliding a lot and I saw Lando closing in."
Hamilton took sixth ahead of Russell and Perez, as Stroll and Tsunoda round out the points places. Hulkenberg just misses out in 11th in front of Magnussen, Ricciardo, Ocon, Zhou, Gasly, Sargeant, Bottas and Alonso. Albon was the only retirement.
"****, I had to work for that! Anyway, we did a great race considering how the weekend started, I had to work hard for that," Verstappen says on the cooldown lap as lets out a huge sigh of a relief.
Norris weaves behind Verstappen looking to put the Dutch driver under pressure but he holds on and Verstappen wins the Imola GP! Norris misses out by 0.7s at the finish line. So close!
"Battery is almost empty," Verstappen says, as he's told how to solve the issue in his current engine mode. Norris is 1.1s back on the penultimate lap.
This generation of F1 cars and tyres typically struggle for performance when following within two seconds of another car. So Norris is in that critical gap and his tyres might be telling him so. Three laps to go and the gap is 1.3s.
Norris is told to push more coming out of Turn 9 and it is another short and sharp response over the team radio: "I'm pushing as hard as I can, mate. Thank you."
Verstappen is given a friendly reminder by engineer Lambiase to avoid any further track limits otherwise he'll pick up a time penalty. That's because Norris is within 5s of the Red Bull driver.
Verstappen is told he's losing time to Norris at Turns 2 and 6, which is the entry to Tamburello and exit at Villeneuve. He says he had no more pace to give. Maybe this win isn't so secure?
Perez has also found time and has taken four seconds out of Hamilton, with Mercedes contemplating a pitstop. Magnussen has overcome Ocon and Bottas to take 13th.
The pace wars has flipped, with Norris now the quickest driver on track as he puts in a 1m20.0s to cut Verstappen's lead to 4.7s and grow his gap over Leclrc to 3.1s.
Magnussen has been stuck behind Zhou ever since their near-miss a short while ago, but the Dane finally makes the move into 15th and can now hunt down Ocon and Bottas.
Leclerc misses his braking point and takes to the grass at Variante Alta which loses him half a second. Vital breathing space gifted to Norris, as the gap grows to 1.6s.
It has been some five laps since Perez got through on Tsunoda but he has made just half a second on Hamilton ahead. Eighth looks as good as it will get for the Red Bull.
