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Verstappen wins as Hamilton climbs to second, with Norris third

The 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was nothing short than entertaining as Max Verstappen took the checkered flag for the first time this season, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

The Dutch driver won by a massive 22 seconds ahead of the seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, but this doesn’t explain everything.

Hamilton went into the gravel and on his escape hit the wall which damaged his front wing. He looked like he was going to be stuck and have to retire, but he found reverse and heading back onto track just as carnage began to unfold elsewhere.

George Russell attempeted to overtake Valtteri Bottas but after clipping the grass he lost control of his car and went straight into the side of the Finnish driver and sent both of them into the wall before Bottas had another huge impact at the other side of the track.

Both drivers got out of their cars okay, but they were rather vocal with their actions as Russell retaliated to Bottas’ gesture and hit the visor of his helmet.

The race was red flagged and after a 25-minute delay, Verstappen led the way after the safety car restart. Crucially this allowed Hamilton to unlap himself and with him being only in ninth anyway, it gave him an outside shout at a podium position.

He put in another fantastic Hamilton masterclass to climb up to P2 and while he was quite far back from Verstappen ahead, he holds onto the lead of the Championship after claiming an extra point for fastest lap.

Lando Norris held onto third place to claim only his second podium in Formula One, while the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz impressed to finish in fourth and fifth.