In race results, McLaren's Oscar Piastri has four wins, his team-mate Lando Norris one and Red Bull's Max Verstappen two. Just distilling it down to those raw statistics, it is cl

Max Verstappen gave his Formula 1 title defense a big boost with victory at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix after a daring overtake on standings leader Oscar Piastri at the start.

The tension is building ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix with the Drivers' Championship title fight finely poised after seven rounds of the 2025 campaign. Oscar Piastri currently leads the way by 13 points ahead of Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen nine points back from the Brit following a commanding win at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Formula One has no plan to go beyond its existing tally of 24 races per season, but expects to have two or three events on rotational deals amid interest from new markets. Stefano Domenicali, F1’s CEO and president,

McLaren opted not to order Piastri to allow Lando Norris past in a bid to challenge Verstappen but the British driver ultimately made a brave move on his team-mate with five laps to go to finish second. Piastri’s lead to Norris was cut to 13 points, with Verstappen now 22 points behind the Australian.

Max Verstappen has called out the decision to seemingly let Imola slide off the F1 calendar. The iconic circuit is out of contract at the end of the season with no sight of a resolution, while Zandvoort’s exit after 2026 has already been confirmed.

The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari — better known as Imola, the Italian town in which it’s located — has just run the last race of its current contract, and with no announcement of a new deal in the lead-up to the weekend’s event, the widespread assumption is that it will be dropped from the calendar from next season.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has hinted that the Formula 1 world drivers’ championship is far from over, and that the current order could be shaken up later in the year. ➡️ READ MORE Red Bull boss issues update on Max Verstappen future amid 'noise' Christian Horner has provided an update on the future of star driver Max Verstappen as 'outside noise' continues to build.

Red Bull Racing appeared to be struggling on Friday, but things took a sharp turn during qualifying. Max Verstappen closed the gap to the McLarens and ultimately extended his lead during Sunday’s race.