The data behind Verstappen’s impressive overtake on Piastri at Imola

Max Verstappen laid the foundations for his fourth consecutive victory at Method 1’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix within the first chicane.

Though the Purple Bull driver suffered a comparatively poor begin, with even George Russell momentarily passing him, Verstappen was first by the top of Flip 3 after a superb overtake on Oscar Piastri. 

“At one level, I used to be in third on the straight. That wasn’t splendid in fact, however then I simply braked a bit later than all of the others!” Verstappen laughed when he regarded again at his personal overtake.

He outbraked Piastri heading into the Tamburello chicane to maneuver across the exterior of the McLaren, squeezing his well past right into a lead that Verstappen subsequently by no means misplaced.

So, what’s the knowledge behind it?

Verstappen’s automotive positioning: Giving Norris and Russell no likelihood

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool

It’s simpler mentioned than achieved. Verstappen’s transfer, in actuality, was way more complicated than his phrases counsel.

The world champion emphasised that it was essential to remain on the racing line, the place there was extra grip and it was much less bumpy in comparison with the within line. It was step one in his profitable try and, apparently, mirrors one other memorable Verstappen overtaking manoeuvre throughout a primary lap: Mexico 2021.

Again then, Verstappen was on the surface as nicely, as he took benefit of the additional grip on the racing line, and managed to brake later than Valtteri Bottas and, most crucially, his fierce title rival Lewis Hamilton.

At Imola, Russell concluded post-race that Piastri had merely left the door open on the surface. It’s true, however solely tells one a part of the story.

The opposite half is how Verstappen positioned his automotive, because the reigning world champion did it cleverly. After the gradual begin, he instantly regarded each proper and left in his mirrors to see the place Russell and Lando Norris had been.

Verstappen positioned the automotive in such a method that Russell couldn’t come throughout, making certain that the Mercedes driver couldn’t block the surface line for the Dutchman. On the identical time, he left slightly below a automotive’s width of area on the fitting aspect of the monitor, stopping Norris from diving into that hole.

This fashion, Verstappen maintained management of his personal racing line and saved the surface line – basically the best racing line – solely for himself, permitting him to provoke his late braking manoeuvre.

The numbers align with Piastri’s phrases: A ten-metre distinction

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool

Concerning that late-braking transfer, the highest speeds that Verstappen and Piastri reached on the finish of the straight had been practically similar. The Purple Bull driver hit 289 km/h in the course of the acceleration section after the beginning, whereas Piastri reached 288 km/h.

Nonetheless, the McLaren driver lifted off the throttle sooner than Verstappen. The info and telemetry present that Verstappen saved his proper foot totally pressed to the ground for 10 metres longer than Piastri.

The championship chief additionally slowed down extra step by step, as Piastri lifted off a lot sooner than his Purple Bull rival, however Verstappen, after that, slammed on the brakes sooner.

In consequence, Verstappen entered the braking zone practically 30 km/h quicker than Piastri. In the mean time Verstappen started braking from his highest recorded pace (289 km/h), Piastri’s pace was already at 260 km/h because of the earlier raise.

It’s this practically 30 km/h distinction when coming into the braking zone – seen within the picture under, with Verstappen being the yellow line and Piastri the orange – that Verstappen was capable of carry into the nook.

Or, as he put it: “After I braked late after which launched the brake pedal, I assumed ‘okay, perhaps this transfer is on’. So, I made a decision to hold that further pace, and with that, you clearly get the momentum.”

Max Verstappen Oscar Piastri Imola Flip 1 Information

Photograph by: Tracing Insights

Though Verstappen slowed down faster on account of his aggressive braking, the pace distinction was nonetheless greater than 15 km/h when he totally positioned his RB21 subsequent to Piastri – 184 vs. 168 km/h.

On the slowest level of the primary chicane, the pace of the Purple Bull driver was nonetheless barely increased than Piastri. Verstappen’s pace on the slowest level of Tamburello was 140 km/h, whereas Piastri’s was 136 km/h.

After that, each drivers accelerated roughly concurrently, however Piastri had to take action in two phases. The Australian, in line with telemetry, needed to raise off a bit greater than Verstappen once more – logically as a result of Verstappen had claimed the nook by then and was on what was initially the surface line, however later grew to become the within.

The numbers completely align with what Piastri himself defined afterwards. The McLaren driver took the primary chicane in a reasonably commonplace, cautious method by lifting off early – he thought it will do as he had the within line coated.

When requested if he was stunned by Verstappen’s transfer across the exterior, Piastri replied within the post-race press convention: “Yeah. I assumed I had it fairly below management, and it was a very good transfer from Max. So, I’ll study for subsequent time, clearly.”

His response to the query about what he would do in a different way, additionally matches the info and telemetry: “In fact, I’d do one thing completely different. I believe I’d brake about 10 metres later.” This corresponds to the ten metres he lifted off the throttle earlier and is strictly what led to the 30 km/h pace distinction that Verstappen carried into the nook.

Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Imola Flip 1 Telemetry

Photograph by: Tracing Insights

Along with the best racing line with extra grip, primarily the results of how Verstappen positioned his automotive on the straight, gave him the momentum to finish what Christian Horner has referred to as “a win it or bin it transfer”.

It’s precisely what, mixed with Purple Bull’s surprisingly good race tempo, has earned Verstappen his second victory of the 2025 season. Or because the four-time world champion summed it up himself: “A transfer like that is by no means straightforward, however fortunately, every part went nicely.”

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