The FIA has officially released the final classification for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, confirming the results after all post-race checks and penalties were reviewed.
Round seven of the 2025 Formula 1 season took place at the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and delivered a dramatic race from start to finish. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed a commanding victory after a crucial early overtake on championship leader Oscar Piastri, setting the tone for the rest of the race.
Verstappen Leads From the Front
Verstappen wasted no time making his move, diving around the outside of Turn 2 on the opening lap to snatch the lead from Piastri. That decisive move, combined with a well-timed Virtual Safety Car, allowed him to maintain control throughout the race and cross the line with a comfortable lead.
Behind him, McLaren secured a double podium, with Lando Norris finishing second and Piastri settling for third after leading the early championship battle.
Hamilton’s Brilliant Recovery
Lewis Hamilton produced one of the standout performances of the day. Starting from 12th on the grid, the seven-time world champion fought his way through the field with a series of clinical overtakes and smart pit strategy, ultimately finishing fourth. The result marks Hamilton’s best finish since joining Ferrari and signals growing momentum for the Scuderia on home soil.
Alex Albon continued his impressive form in 2025, finishing fifth for Williams, while Charles Leclerc gave the Tifosi more reason to cheer with a sixth-place finish, having narrowly avoided a late-race penalty for an incident with Albon.
2025 Imola Grand Prix – Official Classification (With Penalties Applied)
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:31:33.199 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +6.109 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +12.956 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +14.356 |
| 5 | Alex 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 | Kick 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 | Ollie Bearman | Haas | +33.808 |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | +38.572 |
| DNF | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 44 laps |
| DNF | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 27 laps |
Fastest Lap – But No Bonus Point
Max Verstappen also clocked the fastest lap of the race with a 1:17.988 on lap 58. However, due to a regulation change introduced for the 2025 season, no additional championship point is awarded for the fastest lap — a rule that had been in place since 2019.
The change was implemented to prevent strategic manipulation late in races, where drivers would pit solely to set a fastest lap, sometimes distorting the competitive outcome. One of the most memorable examples was Daniel Ricciardo’s final F1 race in Singapore 2024, where he finished last but claimed the fastest lap to deny Lando Norris a crucial point — indirectly aiding Verstappen’s championship run.
Looking Ahead
With Verstappen taking another win and McLaren continuing to mount a serious challenge, the 2025 season remains tightly contested. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s resurgence and Ferrari’s improved form at Imola offer fresh intrigue as the championship battle unfolds.