F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix LIVE: Hamilton with surge to second but can’t catch victorious Verstappen as Norris third

LEWIS HAMILTON put down an incredible surge up the field after an early mistake and finished second behind dominant Max Verstappen in Imola.

Hamilton overtook Lando Norris two laps from the end, as the fellow Brit finished third, but he couldn’t catch Dutchman Verstappen.

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MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS IN IMOLA
He wins in Italy for the first time and crossed the line 22 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was ninth at one point. Hamilton is second. Norris in third.

Leclerc is fourth and Sainz fifth. Ricciardo in sixth. Stroll seventh. Gasly eighth.
LAP 63
Verstappen is on his way to victory here, but Hamilton has the point for the fastest lap.
LAP 60
Hamilton gets in to second place. He gets past Norris

FIVE LAPS TO GO
Verstappen still out in front. He is untroubled.
NORRIS VERSES HAMILTON
The McLaren man is struggling with his tyres and Hamilton is about to take full advantage.
LAP 55
Hamilton gets into third place. He was a lap down and in ninth place when the race was suspended.
He is now up in to the podium places.
EVENTFUL RACE FOR HAMILTON
LAP 49
Verstappen has opened up a big gap at the front. 12.3 seconds over Norris. Leclerc still close.
Hamilton has now passed Sainz and is in fourth place. He is really going for it.
LAP 42
Hamilton now up to 5th. He benefited from the Red Flag and the Safety Car period as his car is now patched up following Lap 1 damage.

LAP 39
Hamilton gets past Stroll an in to 6th. He is on the charge.
PEREZ SPINS
He carelessly spins off and is down to 14th. That is a poor mistake from the Mexican.
WORDS FROM RUSSELL
Thanks for all the messages. I’m fine, just disappointed. At the end of the day, it’s an unfortunate incident. You’re entitled to defend your position. But at 330kph, you have to respect the speed and the conditions when doing so. Gutted for the team. They deserved more today.
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) April 18, 2021
LAP 36
Hamilton now up to 8th behind Stroll.
RACE RESUMES
And Norris gets past Leclerc and in to second place. That is brilliant from Norris.
VERSTAPPEN SPINS
He almost lost position then behind the Safety Car.

RACE WILL RESUME WITH A ROLLING START
Bit of a shame, but smacks of a safety concern from the Race Director.
NINE MINUTES UNTIL THE RESTART
The drivers will now prepare for the restart as the session resumes.
BOTTAS VERSUS RUSSELL
TV replays show Bottas moves to the right and that spooked Russell, who was on the outside and on to the grass.
The lost control and slid into the Mercedes man. The two are furious with each other.
IT WAS A RARE MISTAKE FROM THE WORLD CHAMPION
He was out of position having lapped Russell and he was on the slippery part of the track and slid into the barriers.
HAMILTON UPSET WITH HIMSELF
RED FLAG – RACE STOPPED
Too much debris on track.

RUSSELL BLAMES BOTTAS
The Brit moves on to the grass to overtake Bottas and he hits the Finn, sending him into the barriers.
Both drivers are furious with each other.
BIG CRASH BETWEEN BOTTAS AND RUSSELL
That’s a huge one. Both drivers are ok, but that is a big, big smash
HAMILTON CRASHES
Drama as Lewis Hamilton spins and is in the gravel. He has hit the barrier. He has broken off his front wing
LAP 30
Verstappen
Hamilton
Leclerc
Norris
Perez
Sainz
Ricciardo
Stroll
Bottas
Russell
Raikkonen
Tsunoda
Giovinazzi
Ocon
Alonso
Gasly
Vettel
Schumacher
Mazepin

ITALIAN LANGUAGE