Verstappen looks to restore order at Imola

Max Verstappe

Max Verstappen will aim to recover and put his friend Lando Norris back in his place among the chasing pack this weekend as Formula One returns to Europe for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The three-time world champion, who leads this year's title race for Red Bull, knows however that after suffering two defeats in six season-opening races he may be vulnerable and McLaren's Norris will be armed with upgrades as he seeks to add to his popular maiden triumph in Miami.

Most teams will bring revised cars for the seventh race of the season with Ferrari and Mercedes both hoping to reduce Verstappen's advantage in Ferrari's Italian heartland.

Three decades after the blackest F1 weekend in modern times, when Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed on successive days at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the sport will also pay tributes and remember that bleak May weekend. Verstappen, however, will keep it all simple as he seeks to repeat Red Bull's success at Imola in 2022 when he led teammate Sergio Perez home in a convincing one-two triumph. "Imola is an iconic track to race at and we are excited to be back after last year's race was cancelled," said Verstappen.

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