MAX VERSTAPPEN has WON today's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – opening up a 27 POINT lead over Charles Leclerc.
The Dutchman was victorious by some distance in the end in a Red Bull one-two alongside team-mate Sergio Perez.
But it was a painful race for Lewis Hamilton, who finished back in 14 place in Imola.
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- Alex Cole
Max Verstappen wins the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix!
Christian Horner says on the radio: "Well done Max! Great job!"
A Red Bull one-two and Englishman Lando Norris on the podium.
1 Vertsappen
2 Perez
3 Norris
Credit: Getty - Alex Cole
Last lap
15 second advantage for Max Vertsappen!
Bottos tries to overtake Russell but he stays fourth.
Leclerc in sixth.
Hamilton in 14th!
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Top 10 from Imola
1 Vertsappen
2 Perez
3 Norris
4 Russell
5 Bottas
6 Tsunoda
7 Leclerc
8 Vettel
9 Magnussen
10 Stroll
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Leclerc now chasing
Three laps to go and light rain could be on it's way.
- Alex Cole
LECLERC SPINS OUT
Leclerc spins out.
He'd changed to soft tyres, eyeing an extra point for the fastest lap.
The 24-year-old bounced over the chicane and off onto the gravel.
He makes it back on the track, but can't turn left!
The Ferrari is now back in the pits.
- Alex Cole
Tsunoda into eighth
The Japanese driver takes it past Kevin Magnussen.
The AlphaTauri man is up to eighth.
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Top 10 from Imola
1 Vertsappen
2 Perez
3 Leclerc
4 Norris
5 Russell
6 Bottas
7 Vettel
8 Magnussen
9 Tsunoda
10 Stroll
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DRS enabled
Over the half way mark in the race now and DRS has been enabled.
Sir Lewis is chasing a points finish.
Whilst the Red Bull guys stay first and second – Verstappen and Perez respectively.
- Alex Cole
Sir Lewis out the points again
Lewis Hamilton in 14th place coming up to the half way point in the race.
Credit: AP
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Top five from Imola
1 Vertsappen
2 Perez
3 Leclerc
4 Norris
5 Russell
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Leclerc drops back in third
Leclerc slides into second after the pit stops…
BUT Perez takes Leclerc to move back into second.
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Perez pulls in
Sergio Perez comes in to pit to move onto the dry tyres.
Vertsappen stays out.
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Bottas up to sixth
Valtteri Bottas overtakes Magnussen…
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Max still leading
Verstappen has been on the intermediate tyres since the start.
Our leader has radioed in to say that he's slipping.
He's just over six seconds in front.
- Alex Cole
Top five from Imola
1 Vertsappen
2 Perez
3 Leclerc
4 Norris
5 Russell
- Ben Hunt
Sainz is in the gravel! He is OUT
Disaster for Ferrari on the opening lap. Sainz is tagged by Ricciardo and sent into a spin that lands him in the gravel.
His Ferrari is send backwards into the stones and he is stuck. The race steward deploys the safety car.
- Ben Hunt
Go Go Go…..spray sent fling into the sky.
A fantastic start for Norris who is up to third.
- Ben Hunt
Here we go…formational lap done
Clouds of red smoke from the flares from all the Ferrari fans…
- Ben Hunt
Unusual for Hamilton on the gird
Aside from being wayyyyy down in 14th, he spent a considerable amount of talking to his chief engineer upon leaving his car.
Normally, he's out of the car and shoots off, but this time he had plenty to say.
- Ben Hunt
Just back from the grid
It is damp, but not raining, so likely that all drivers will start on intermediate tyres.
- Alex Cole
The tension heightens
The Italian national anthem is played as the drivers stand together.
The atmosphere is building here in Imola.
Credit: Splash
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Horner wants to stay in front
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner spoke to Sky Sports ahead of the race.
He said: "We've got to go with the track, not make mistakes, and stay in front of Ferrari."
We've got to go with the track, not make mistakes, and stay in front of Ferrari.
Christian Horner
- Alex Cole
Top of the lot
Here's the starting 10 out on the grid today in Imola.
- Alex Cole
'The start is important', says Verstappen
Mad Max starts the race in pole position.
And the champ has spoken to Sky Sports about the wet conditions ahead of this afternoon's extravaganza.
He said: "I don't think we expected this much rain.
It's going to be really interesting.
"It'll make it more exciting."
- Alex Cole
Update on conditions
The rain is clearing at Imola and forecasts show that it should stop falling shortly.
There is still a lot of standing water out on the track however.
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