Such theatre, such drama was on show at Imola, the very human side of this technological arms race given glorious centre stage. Hamilton was fortunate the race was stopped and he was able to resume in ninth with the field gathered together but his shot at the win had gone. So he did, charging from the restart more than aware that every point dropped to Verstappen now might be vital in the title fight and determined to relinquish none of them. Nothing could be decided in the title fight in Imola but as Hamilton noted, and Verstappen is more than aware, had the world champion failed to finish, dropping 25 points would have left a mountain to climb even this early in the season.

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