Analysis – The data behind Max Verstappen’s impressive overtake on Oscar Piastri at Imola F1 GP

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

Although the Red Bull driver suffered a relatively poor start, with even George Russell momentarily passing him, Verstappen was first by the end of Turn 3 after a brilliant overtake on Oscar Piastri. 

“At one point, I was in third on the straight. That wasn’t ideal of course, but then I just braked a bit later than all the others!” Verstappen laughed when he looked back at his own overtake.

He outbraked Piastri heading into the Tamburello chicane to move around the outside of the McLaren, squeezing his way past into a lead that Verstappen subsequently never lost.

So, what is the data behind it?

Verstappen’s car positioning: giving Norris and Russell no chance

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

It’s easier said than done. Verstappen’s move, in reality, was far more complex than his words suggest.

The world champion emphasised that it was crucial to stay on the racing line, which was grippier and less bumpy than the inside line. It was the first step in his successful attempt and, interestingly, mirrors another memorable Verstappen overtaking manoeuvre during a first lap: Mexico 2021.

Back then, Verstappen was on the outside as well, as he took advantage of the extra 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 simply left the door open on the outside. It is true, but only tells one part of the story.

The other part is how Verstappen positioned his car, as the reigning world champion did it cleverly. After the slow start, he immediately looked both right and left in his mirrors to see where Russell and Lando Norris were.

Verstappen positioned the car in such a way that Russell couldn’t come across, ensuring that the Mercedes driver could not block the outside line for the Dutchman. At the same time, he left just under a car’s width of space on the right side of the track, preventing Norris from diving into that gap.

This way, Verstappen maintained control of his own racing line and kept the outside line – essentially the ideal racing line – entirely for himself, allowing him to initiate his late braking manoeuvre.

The numbers align with Piastri’s words: a 10-meter difference

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Regarding that late-braking move, the top speeds that Verstappen and Piastri reached at the end of the straight were nearly identical. The Red Bull driver hit 289 km/h during the acceleration phase after the start, while Piastri reached 288 km/h.

However, the McLaren driver lifted off the throttle earlier than Verstappen. The data and telemetry show that Verstappen kept his right foot fully pressed to the floor for 10 metres longer than Piastri.

The championship leader also slowed down more gradually, as Piastri lifted off much earlier than his Red Bull rival, but Verstappen, after that, slammed on the brakes sooner.

As a result, Verstappen entered the braking zone nearly 30 km/h faster than Piastri. At the moment Verstappen began braking from his highest recorded speed (289 km/h), Piastri’s speed was already at 260 km/h due to the earlier lift.

It’s this nearly 30 km/h difference when entering the braking zone – seen in the image below, with Verstappen being the yellow line and Piastri the orange – that Verstappen was able to carry into the corner.

Or, as he put it: “When I braked late and then released the brake pedal, I thought ‘okay, maybe this move is on’. So, I decided to carry that extra speed, and with that, you obviously get the momentum.”

Max Verstappen Oscar Piastri Imola Turn 1 Data

Photo by: Tracing Insights

Although Verstappen slowed down quicker due to his aggressive braking, the speed difference was still more than 15 km/h when he fully positioned his RB21 next to Piastri – 184 vs 168 km/h.

At the slowest point of the first chicane, the speed of the Red Bull driver was still slightly higher than Piastri’s. Verstappen’s speed at the slowest point of Tamburello was 140 km/h, while Piastri’s was 136 km/h.

After that, both drivers accelerated more or less simultaneously, but Piastri had to do so in two phases. The Australian, according to telemetry, had to lift off a bit more than Verstappen again – logically because Verstappen had claimed the corner by then and was on what was originally the outside line, but later became the inside.

The numbers perfectly align with what Piastri himself explained afterwards. The McLaren driver took the first chicane in a fairly standard, cautious way by lifting off early – he thought it would do as he had the inside line covered.

When asked if he was surprised by Verstappen’s move around the outside, Piastri replied in the post-race press conference: “Yeah. I thought I had it pretty under control, and it was a good move from Max. So, I’ll learn for next time, clearly.”

His response to the question about what he would do differently, also matches the data and telemetry: “Of course, I would do something different. I think I would brake about 10 metres later.” This corresponds to the 10 metres he lifted off the throttle earlier and is exactly what led to the 30 km/h speed difference that Verstappen carried into the corner.

Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Imola Turn 1 Telemetry

Photo by: Tracing Insights

Together with the ideal racing line with more grip, mainly the result of how Verstappen positioned his car on the straight, gave him the momentum to complete what Christian Horner has called “a win it or bin it move”.

It’s exactly what, combined with Red Bull’s surprisingly good race pace, has earned Verstappen his second victory of the 2025 season. Or as the four-time world champion summed it up himself: “A move like this is never easy, but luckily, everything went well.”