One of the most defining moments of the Imola race was when Max Verstappen doubled Lewis Hamilton. With more than 77 seconds of lead, Verstappen passed his rival, with whom he fought for the title in 2021. It was a striking image, which pleased Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who also spoke of the way Red Bull put pressure on the Ferrari:
“Honestly, I enjoyed seeing Max double Hamilton after everything that happened last year. Hamilton had a really bad time, while his teammate George Russell seemed to be more balanced. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to give a Mercedes a lead lap.”
“In Italy Max and Red Bull put Ferrari under pressure and when under pressure it is easy to make a mistake. If you’re leading effortlessly, that chance is much smaller. It turned out to be a perfect weekend for Max.”
