Max Verstappen took all the honors during the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Formerly known as the San Marino Grand Prix, the venue made its return in 2020. The track recently made a triumphant return to Formula One, bringing with it nostalgia for those of the fans who experienced it decades ago.
Verstappen’s win grabbed the headlines, but there was a moment in the race that sent shock waves among the fans. The Dutchman, on his way to secure his second victory of the season, lapped seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. A reminder that just last season, they were fighting each other for the World Championship title.
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The W-13 has done no favors for the Brit. And to make matter worse, his teammate George Russell finished P4. They are struggling to match Red Bull and Ferrari. Meanwhile, Christian Horner had his say on the incident when Verstappen lapped Hamilton.
Christian Horner believes Hamilton can bounce back
The 1-2 in Imola will certainly please the Red Bull camp. They secured maximum points and are right back in contention to compete with Ferrari. Red Bull boss Christian Horner had his say on Verstappen lapping Hamilton and feels if Mercedes resolves their issues, the Brit will be right back in the race for the championship.
Speaking to the F1 Nation Podcast, he said, “I mean, look, Lewis has had a horrible weekend, but he hasn’t forgotten how to drive. I mean, only 5 races ago, they were fighting for a world championship.
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So, they will get that car sorted out and he can still be a factor in this championship, so we don’t underestimate any of our opponents and all we can do is really focus on ourselves and try and ensure that we maximize the opportunities when we have them.”
The blue flags waved during the race would have surely devastated Hamilton. The 37-year-old is going through a tough period as his hopes of an unprecedented 8th title are slipping away. Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggested that Hamilton should have retired last year, while Verstappen himself revealed there was nothing exciting in lapping the Mercedes driver.
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However, the result in Imola will delight Red Bull, as this leaves them just 11 points behind Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. With the battle for the championship getting intense, will Mercedes join the top two teams in competing for the title? Leave your predictions in the comments.