Max Verstappen Secures Red Bull’s 400th Win with Sensational Overtake

In a thrilling turn of events, Red Bull Racing celebrated its 400th victory in Formula 1, thanks to Max Verstappen’s sensational opening lap overtake on polesitter Oscar Piastri. This daring maneuver, labeled as a “win it or bin it” move by team boss Christian Horner, propelled Verstappen into the lead and set the stage for an unforgettable race.

Verstappen Takes Charge with Impressive Performance

Around Tamburello, Verstappen made his move, powering into the lead where he maintained a firm grip, despite one safety car restart and one virtual safety car (VSC) period. This marked Verstappen’s second win of the season, narrowing the gap between him and championship leader Piastri to just 22 points.

Horner expressed his relief at the result, which came after a slow start for the team following their loss of the constructors’ championship title to McLaren last season. He described the victory as a morale-boosting success, especially as the F1 season moves towards a series of predominantly European races.

Horner Praises Verstappen’s Decisive Skills and Team Performance

Horner was impressed by Verstappen’s decisiveness in seizing the opportunity to overtake Piastri, stating that he “just sees a gap and it’s so decisive for him.” He also praised the team’s pace and their ability to manage tyre degradation effectively.

The VSC and safety car periods provided strategic opportunities, but at all times, Verstappen had the pace to respond, never putting the team under pressure from behind. Horner was particularly pleased with the team’s performance, as they were able to overhaul McLaren‘s advantage after the Woking-based outfit had started the weekend strongly in practice.

Red Bull Building Momentum for the Championship

Despite the strong showing from McLaren at the start of the weekend, Red Bull demonstrated impressive pace in the race, a performance Horner believes is encouraging and a great result for the effort behind the scenes. He believes that Red Bull is building momentum at a crucial stage in the championship.

Internal Squabble between McLaren Drivers May Cost Points

While Red Bull is building on its strong performance in Imola, Horner believes the internal squabble between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Piastri could cost them points in the long run. He suggests that self-interest will eventually outweigh team interest, leading to potential conflicts. Despite this, he commends for allowing their drivers to race without making contact.