The Grand Prix of Emilie-Romagne 2025 in Imola was the scene of a real earthquake in the world of Formula 1.. A series of controversial FIA decisions, spectacular accidents and unexpected performances have transformed this race weekend into total chaos, aroused passionate reactions of pilots, teams and fans. While Max Verstappen won a brilliant victory, ending the series of three consecutive victories of Oscar Piastri, behind the scenes of the race were marked by controversies that continue to vibrate the F1 community.
From the qualifications, the tone was set. The session was marked by a terrifying accident by Yuki Tsunoda, whose Red Bull turned after a violent shock. Transported to the medical center, Tsunoda was fortunately declared unscathed, but his team had to rebuild a new car, leading to a change of chassis and multiple components. Result: a starting penalty from the Japanese stands route, confirmed by the FIA, which judged that Red Bull had used parts not in accordance with initial specifications. This decision immediately ignited discussions, Tsunoda fans showing up injustice on social networks. “It’s scandalous! The FIA ​​penalizes a pilot for an accident he did not choose, “a supporter on X.
But Tsunoda was not the only one to pay the cost of the FIA ​​decisions. The young Alpine pilot, Franco Colapinto, also received a grid penalty for an error during a red flag in qualifying. Released by his team before the official resumption of the session, Colapinto saw his hopes to shine at Imola collapse. These strict sanctions have rekindled criticism against FIA, accused of lacking clarity and consistency in its judgments.
Another key moment of qualifications was the controversy surrounding Ollie Bearman. The Haas pilot, eliminated in Q1, saw his best time canceled due to a red flag launched by the Tsunoda accident. Bearman, furious, described the decision as “completely unfair” and denounced a lack of transparency on the part of officials. According to him, no red flag signal was visible on his steering wheel when he crossed the line. The FIA ​​replied, explaining that the orange lights were on more than three seconds before, in accordance with the regulations. This explanation did not calm the spirits, and Haas met the officials after the session to request accounts. This case relaunched the debate on the need to improve the communication systems in the race to avoid such injustices.
On the track, Max Verstappen recalled why he remains one of the best pilots on the board. Leaving on the front line alongside Oscar Piastri, the Dutch man achieved a daring surpassing in the first round, taking the lead so that he no longer let go. This victory, the second of the season for Verstappen, ended the recent domination of McLaren. However, the British team’s strategy was pointed out. Piastri, the leader of the championship, was the victim of an overly early standing stop, forcing him to sail in traffic on a circuit where exceeding is notoriously difficult. Lando Norris, his teammate, saved the furniture with a second place, but expressed his frustration of not being able to challenge Versappen.
Despite the chaos, some pilots shone. Lewis Hamilton, who left 11th after a disappointing qualification, made a spectacular rise to finish 4th, even passing his teammate at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc. The latter, involved in a late incident with Alex Albon, avoided a penalty by returning his position, but finished 6th, far from the expectations of the tifosi. For his part, Aston Martin surprised everyone thanks to a choice of daring tires. By opting for the Medium compound rather than the new ultra-groom C6, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have won unexpected places in qualifying, proving that the strategy can sometimes overthrow the forecasts.
FIA decisions have sparked a wave of reactions. George Russell, 7th for Mercedes, criticized the inconsistency of the sanctions, while Toto Wolff had to calm tensions after ignoring a request from his pilot. On the networks, fans have oscillated between admiration for the thrilling race and anger against officials. “IMOLA 2025 will remain in the annals, but not necessarily for the right reasons,” summed up a commentator on X.
While F1 is preparing for the next race, a question remains: will FIA manage to appease tensions and restore the confidence of teams and fans? One thing is certain: Imola’s chaos has proven that Formula 1 remains a sport where every detail counts, and where the emotions are always on edge.
