Data Analysis Reveals Verstappen’s Stunning Overtake on Piastri at Imola

Max Verstappen added to his victory tally at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with a standout overtake on Oscar Piastri. The Red Bull driver started from second, but a slow getaway meant he briefly dropped behind both Piastri and George Russell heading down to the first chicane at Imola.

However, by the end of Turn 3, Verstappen was back at the front after passing Piastri with a move that drew praise from paddock leaders and fans alike. The decisive moment happened as Verstappen approached Tamburello.

Keeping his car on the outside racing line, which offers more grip and fewer bumps, Verstappen carefully studied his rivals in the mirrors. He kept just enough space to his right for Norris but blocked Russell from sweeping across, protecting the line he wanted for the corner.

This setup let Verstappen attempt a later-than-normal braking point, carrying more speed and confidence into the vital opening chicane. Telemetry from both cars gives more insight into just how Verstappen made it work. For a deeper understanding of racing telemetry and its role in F1 strategy, check out this explanation from the FIA.

Top speeds between the Red Bull and the McLaren were almost identical at the end of the straight—Verstappen hit 289 km/h and Piastri was right behind at 288 km/h. The difference came as Piastri lifted off the throttle early, while Verstappen kept his foot pinned for an extra 10 meters.

This detail meant Verstappen reached the braking zone nearly 30 km/h faster than Piastri, carrying crucial momentum into the corner. By the time Verstappen began braking, his speed still registered at 289 km/h, while Piastri had already slowed to 260 km/h.

Verstappen’s aggressive braking then slowed him more quickly, but the speed gap remained notable. When their cars were side by side, Verstappen was traveling at 184 km/h, compared to Piastri’s 168 km/h.

At the slowest part of the chicane, Verstappen still held a small edge—140 km/h to 136 km/h. After the race, Piastri admitted he hadn’t expected Verstappen’s attack on the outside.

The Australian said he took the chicane cautiously, protecting the inside, but realized afterward that braking later, by around 10 meters, might have kept him ahead. Their post-race comments closely matched the data, showing that small differences in throttle and brake timing can decide a Grand Prix lead. For more on race strategy and driver decision-making, explore this MIT Motorsports analysis.

Verstappen’s move—keeping the ideal racing line, exploiting grip, and relying on brake confidence—proved unbeatable at Imola. His ability to perfectly combine car placement and speed brought home another victory for Red Bull and kept his championship streak alive.

The sequence showed again why Verstappen is tough to beat, especially when it matters most on a race’s opening lap. To learn more about the physics of overtaking in Formula 1, visit NASA’s aerodynamics research page.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.