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Top 5 underrated moments from Imola GP 2024

Check out the thrilling and often overlooked highlights from the Imola GP 2024. From Max Verstappen's Tsunoda incident to Alex Albon's team bond rocked at Imola.

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Shubham Shekhar
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Imola GP 2024

Imola GP 2024 (Source: Twitter/X)

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Max Verstappen's grip on the 2024 world championship has strengthened his fifth win in the first seven races, successfully holding off a determined Lando Norris. McLaren and Norris came just 0.7 seconds short of securing their second consecutive victory. 

However, Verstappen clinched a hard-fought, impressive win. Charles Leclerc completed the podium after what was a largely uneventful race for the first 55 laps.

Meanwhile, some moments made the event memorable at Imola again:

5. Max Verstappen’s aggressive run:

One of the most important moments of the race at Imola was Max Verstappen’s aggressive racing style in the later stageVerstappen's winning margin of just 0.7 seconds meant that during Norris' late charge, the Brit was within DRS range only on the final lap, helping Verstappen keep Norris at bay. However, Verstappen's early mistakes made the last few laps and more tense than they could have been. 

He had three track limit infringements, earning a black-and-white flag, which meant another violation would result in a five-second penalty. As Norris closed in, Verstappen received a warning from his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, about his aggressive driving. This likely led to a more cautious approach from Verstappen in the race's final stages.

4. Eddie Irvine’s shocking interview: 

Martin Brundle's customary grid walk, known for its encounters with high-profile celebrities, took an unexpected turn during the Emilia Romagna GPInstead of Brundle, Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok grabbed the spotlight.

Chandhok approached former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine on the Imola grid, asking him about his experience as a Ferrari driver in Italy with the passionate Tifosi supporting him. However, Irvine, appearing somewhat disconnected, responded unusually. He claimed that he was no longer the same person who had achieved such heights in the 90s and early 2000s, suggesting a profound personal transformation.

3. Alex Albon guides Logan Sargeant: 

Alex Albon endured a disastrous weekend at Imola, compounded by a pit stop error during Sunday's race. The Williams pit crew failed to properly fit his tyre, resulting in a 10-second penalty for a safety violation.

Consequently, Albon found himself at the back of the grid and eventually retired after falling over one lap behind. Despite his woes, the 28-year-old, who recently inked a long-term deal with Williams, offered advice to teammate Logan Sargeant over the radio. He was heard suggesting a low BMIG and specific strategies for tackling the Imola track.

2. Max Verstappen slams Yuki Tsunoda: 

Sergio Perez's lacklustre performance in Imola further dimmed his prospects of securing a new contract beyond the current season. Verstappen's teammate has been unable to clinch a victory since April 2023 and managed only an eighth-place finish while the reigning world champion sailed to success.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, a rising star at RB, demonstrated another solid performance, finishing in 10th place. However, during Verstappen's attempt to fend off a late challenge from Norris, he found himself needing to overtake Tsunoda swiftly. 

Yet, Tsunoda didn't appear to make a concerted effort to yield, prompting Verstappen to criticize him as 'stupidover the team radio. Tsunoda's performance might hint at his aspirations to join Verstappen as a teammate starting in 2025.

1. Yuki Tsunoda’s iconic overtake: 

On a brighter note for Tsunoda, his achievement of scoring points might not have been possible without his exceptional performance in qualifying and his impressive race tactics. This included a remarkable overtake on Williams driver Logan Sargeant at the challenging Villeneuve chicane, a notoriously difficult spot for passing. This manoeuvre propelled Tsunoda to 13th place, allowing him to relentlessly pursue the cars ahead after executing this exceptional move.

Formula 1 Imola GP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
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