Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2024 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Max Verstappen held off a thrilling late charge from Lando Norris to win a tense Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, demonstrating his racecraft under immense pressure. The victory came despite McLaren's upgraded car showing blistering pace, with Norris closing the gap dramatically in the final laps but running out of time to mount a genuine overtaking attempt.

Starting from pole position, Verstappen controlled the early stages but faced increasing pressure from the resurgent McLaren as the race progressed. Norris, running fresher tires in the closing stages, slashed Verstappen's lead lap by lap, setting up a nail-biting finale. The gap shrank to less than a second in the final laps, with Norris radioing that he could catch the Red Bull. However, Verstappen's defensive masterclass and the difficulty of overtaking at the tight Imola circuit allowed him to hold on for victory by just 0.725 seconds.

Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third for Ferrari at their home circuit, while George Russell set the fastest lap for Mercedes. The race provided further evidence that Red Bull's dominance was under serious threat, with McLaren's upgraded package delivering the performance needed to challenge for victories. The thrilling battle between Verstappen and Norris foreshadowed what would become a season-defining rivalry.