Max Verstappen after win at Imola: Our one-two is very deserving

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen on the podium after winning the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix yesterday. Pics/Getty Images

World champion Max Verstappen rekindled his title defence on Sunday with an accomplished victory ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in a dominant one-two triumph for Red Bull at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

16 seconds ahead

In a rain-affected race, the pole-sitting 24-year-old Dutchman came home more than 16 seconds ahead of his teammate as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari endured a disappointing day in front of passionate home support at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

"Today, you never know with the weather how competitive you are going to be but I think we did very well and this one-two is very deserved," said Verstappen.

"The start was very important but afterwards, judging the conditions and when to swap to the slick tyres, because in the lead you have to always dictate the pace."

Leclerc, who started second on the grid, finished sixth after making a poor start and spinning in the closing laps while running third, allowing Lando Norris to take the final podium place for McLaren.

Hamilton finishes 14th

George Russell produced a stirring drive for Mercedes to come home fourth after starting 11th, fending off Valtteri Bottas's Alfa Romeo at the finish, while teammate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished a distant 14th.

F2: Daruvala finishes second in sprint race

India's Jehan Daruvala finished a creditable second in the sprint race of the Formula 2 championships here.

Daruvala, 23, who started third, rocketed off the line to slot into second behind Marcus Armstrong, who took the lead after sprint race pole-sitter Logan Sargeant made a tardy getaway and dropped to fifth on Saturday.

Jehan kept the position through an early safety car and then a subsequent Virtual Safety Car period before unleashing his pace.

Jehan, backed by Red Bull Racing, cranked up the pressure on Armstrong, harrying him for the lead as he closed to within a second of the Kiwi racer.

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