F1 Results Today: McLaren beaten as double retirement causes chaos at Imola

Max Verstappen, Generic, 2025, Imola GP — Photo: © IMAGO

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

F1 Results Today: McLaren beaten as double retirement causes chaos at Imola

All the timings and full results from the Imola Grand Prix

Originally written by Sheona Mountford. This version is a translation.

Sunday 18 May 2025 17:11

McLaren were beaten by Max Verstappen at the Imola Grand Prix, as two F1 stars retired from the race.

Verstappen made a fantastic move on Oscar Piastri at Tamburello on Lap 1, and proceeded to build an incredible lead over McLaren.

Piastri and McLaren attempted the undercut on Verstappen during the first round of pit stops, but a slow stop cost the Aussie in his fight with the four-time world champion.

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McLaren's woes continued when Esteban Ocon parked his Haas on the grass, which prompted a virtual safety car and the slowed down field - playing out perfectly for Verstappen.

The Dutchman had not stopped yet and in doing so under VSC conditions, maintained his lead ahead of Piastri and Lando Norris, building a staggering 18 second gap by Lap 45.

Verstappen's huge lead was wiped out as the field bunched up behind the safety car, and they readied themselves for a 10-lap sprint shootout at the end of the race.

However, the champion remained composed and maintained his lead on the restart, pulling out a huge advantage as the McLarens squabbled behind him, helping Verstappen romp to the victory.

Even Fernando Alonso felt the drama in Imola, and left the pits with his front left tyre ablaze after his brakes caught fire, but the Spaniard managed to continue in the race.

F1 Results: Imola Grand Prix 2025

Position	Driver	Team	Gap
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	Leader
2	Lando Norris	McLaren	+6.109
3	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+12.956
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+14.356
5	Alexander Albon	Williams	+17.945
6	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+20.774
7	George Russell	Mercedes	+22.034
8	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+22.898
9	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+23.586
10	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	+26.446
11	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+27.250
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	+30.296
13	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+31.424
14	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+32.511
15	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+32.993
16	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+33.411
17	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+33.808
18	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	+38.572
NC	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	DNF (Lap 44)
NC	Esteban Ocon	Haas	DNF (Lap 27)

NC = Not Classified

Who is the current F1 world champion?

Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, and won his fourth drivers' championship last year.

2025 rule change removes fastest lap point

Fastest lap points have been banished for 2025. Since 2019, drivers have picked up an extra point if they finish in the top 10 and achieve the fastest lap.

However, it did lead to some drivers abandoning their races to pit and fit a set of new tyres at the end in order to claim the fastest lap point, or to stop a rival from getting the extra point.

The most famous example of this in 2024 came during Daniel Ricciardo's final F1 race, when the Australian finished last but claimed the fastest lap on the final lap of the Singapore GP, taking the extra point away from Lando Norris and helping Max Verstappen's title bid.

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Max Verstappen McLaren Oscar Piastri Esteban Ocon Kimi Antonelli