Shwartzman stuns with Indy 500 pole, How the title race just took a dramatic turn, and other big updates

Shwartzman stuns with Indy 500 pole

Rookie Robert Shwartzman and his team, Prema Racing, surprised everyone by winning pole position at the 109th Indianapolis 500 with a speed of 232.790 mph. They struggled early in the week but improved a lot and shocked the field on qualifying day. Shwartzman is the first Israeli and first rookie in 42 years to get pole at Indy, and he said it felt like a dream. While top drivers had problems and crashes, Shwartzman’s brave run put him in front for the big race.

Click here to read the full article by Phillip van Osten (f1i.com) 

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How the title race just took a dramatic turn

Max Verstappen made a strong move on Oscar Piastri at the first corner and stayed in front to win the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Despite a slow start, he took advantage of Piastri's equally poor launch to seize the lead and never looked back. Verstappen benefited from smart strategy calls, including a well-timed pit stop during a virtual safety car, and pulled away after the final safety car thanks to fresher tires. Red Bull's car and strategy finally worked well, and Verstappen is now only 22 points behind Piastri in the title fight.

Click here to read the full article by Gerd Jansen & Fergal Walsh (racingnews365.com)

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What McLaren needs to fix following Imola upset

Red Bull surprised McLaren by managing their tires better to win the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, even though McLaren’s Oscar Piastri started in pole position and looked strong. Red Bull made changes to their car that helped it stay balanced and keep the tires from wearing out too fast, which let Max Verstappen race more comfortably. McLaren had trouble with the fast corners at Imola and keeping their tires cool, which made it harder for them than in earlier races like Miami. The race speed was close, but McLaren’s strategy and tire problems cost them, and now they don’t know if Red Bull got better or if their own car got worse.

Click here to read the full article by Jon Noble & Mark Hughes (the-race.com)

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The Messi surprise at Imola

Franco Colapinto returned to the track and was the big story at Imola. It was the first time fans saw him in an Alpine car, and once he arrived, he was immediately besieged by fans and media. Then came a surprise gift featuring the Messi logo from ESPN Latin America. But that was just the beginning of the surprises in Imola.

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Williams is sacrificing its best season in years

Williams is currently enjoying its strongest season in a decade, even managing to outshine one of Formula 1's top teams on more than one occasion. However, despite its progress and the possibility of achieving even greater results, the team is already shifting its attention toward next season. It appears they're willing to give up short-term gains for long-term success.