International media amazed at Verstappen's 'sheer brilliance' after 'burning' Piastri to take fourth consecutive Imola win

08:04, 19 May

byOlly Darcy

Max Verstappen's second win of the 2025 Formula 1 season was perhaps even more impressive than his first, taking a fourth consecutive win at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in frot of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Piastri was on pole to start the Grand Prix, but a sublime move around the outside of turn 1 meant the Dutchman took the lead, and he did not look back, driving an imperious race to give himself a stunning victory.

Verstappen's drive to the top step of the podium was all the international media could talk about.

Verstappen now sits 22 points behind Piastri at the top of the drivers' standings

Auto Motor und Sport

The German media outlet started by praising Verstappen's drive: "After dominating the Miami race, McLaren had to concede defeat to Red Bull in the seventh race of the season.

"Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third, respectively, behind Max Verstappen, who controlled the entire race. Verstappen once again laid the foundation with his brilliant overtaking manoeuvre in the Tamburello chicane. Overall, however, Red Bull also had the better pace than McLaren and was the stronger force. This put them back in the fight for the World Championship."

The German medium also saw the Austrian team catch McLaren in a hugely important area at Imola: "Red Bull was on par with its arch-rivals in the 400th Grand Prix in the very discipline where McLaren usually excels – tyre wear. Despite the warm temperatures, they managed to keep the tires alive. Another bonus: Verstappen, like in Suzuka, was in the lead and had a clear path and clean air. The pit stop was just in time for the Virtual Safety Car, which was deployed due to Esteban Ocon's stranded Haas, and played into the Bulls' hands."

The Daily Mail

Just like Auto Motor und Sport, all the plaudits from The Daily Mail went to the four-time world champion, stunned at the lap one overtake that all but sealed his second win of 2025.

"Now you know what it’s like, mate," the British online paper started the British online paper. "That is what Lando Norris, enjoying a strangely warming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, could comfort himself by thinking after witnessing his McLaren buddy Oscar Piastri’s hard experience of Max Verstappen’s sheer brilliance.

"Turn One. Verstappen, from second on the grid, braked so late he was nearly in the 22nd Century. He then wriggled in front of Piastri, the pole-sitter, at Tamburello moments later, to complete the mugging."

Gazzetta dello Sport

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport was next to give Verstappen his flower, seeing him fianlly complete a full weekend with his troublesome RB21.

"In Saudi Arabia and Miami, he had achieved the feat on Saturday. In Imola, however, Max Verstappen saved the feat for Sunday. An extraordinary overtaking move at the start for the world champion, who burned Oscar Piastri (third) at the first braking point. Second place for Lando Norris, who also pulled off a nice move against his teammate a few laps from the end.

There was also a bit to say on the Ferrari pair wh resurreced their race after starting in P11 and P12.

"The wooden medal for Lewis Hamilton: great race for the British driver, protagonist of a nice comeback. Behind him was the seven-time world champion Alex Albon, engaged for several laps in a nice duel with Charles Leclerc, sixth at the end of the race. The team asked the Monegasque to give up the position to his Williams rival on the last lap, after a contact between the two that had occurred a few laps earlier had been noticed by the race director."

De Telegraaf

Dutch medium De Telegraaf were another international media that was amazed at the move Verstappen put on title-rival Piastri to close the gap to the Australian in the standings.

"Piastri, who started from pole position, got off to a better start than Verstappen and was in front heading into the first combination of corners, but a brilliant move by the late-braking Dutch world champion allowed him to pass the Australian in that chicane.

"An all-or-nothing move from the book, and Verstappen managed to steadily pull away from Piastri. He may have expected that he would be able to close the gap to the Limburger, but nothing could be further from the truth in that initial phase."

A late safety car saw a 20 second for Verstappen be completey wiped out, but the Red Bull driver did not flinch, and the Dutch online paper saw that too.

"After the safety car finally came in, there were still ten laps to race. Verstappen kept his cool and immediately pulled a gap to Piastri. He was then also overtaken by Norris, who was driving on fresher tyres."