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Max Verstappen celebrating his win in Imola

Verstappen warns "no guarantees" Imola win sparks season-long F1 battle with Hamilton

Max Verstappen celebrating his win in Imola — Photo: © LAT Images

Verstappen warns "no guarantees" Imola win sparks season-long F1 battle with Hamilton

Verstappen's Imola success was 11th win of F1 career

Max Verstappen has warned his victory at Imola serves as no guarantee of a season-long F1 title battle with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen enjoyed a comprehensive 22-second triumph over Hamilton in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to close the gap at the top of the drivers' standings to one point after the opening two races.

Yet Verstappen did not have it all his own way across the weekend in Italy, especially with Hamilton securing the 99th pole position of his career.

With a win apiece, it has set up what F1's managing director motorsports Ross Brawn has described as a potential "golden year" for the sport.

Verstappen has tempered such high expectation. He said: "It’s a very long season.

"We just have to keep on working very hard. I’m very happy with the result, of course, but we have to keep on improving because there’s still a lot of work to be able to keep doing this the whole season."

As for the fact the battle is with Hamilton, Verstappen added: "Of course. If I would be driving P10, it’s not enjoyable.

"It’s great to be fighting against Lewis, Mercedes who, I think, as a team, they have been so dominant and they’re very difficult to beat.

"So to be able to say, after two races in a row, we were very, very competitive, that’s very promising but no guarantees."

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