Max Verstappen recorded his second win of the F1 season, with a stunning first lap overtake on Oscar Piastri key to the win.
Despite getting a slow launch of the line, and falling to P3 behind George Russell, Verstappen moved to the outside of the Tamburello braking zone and simply drove cleanly around the outside of pole-sitter Piastri.
The Red Bull then gapped the DRS of the Australian, sitting about two seconds clear by Lap 13, when Piastri dived for the pits to change his medium tyres.
It was a slow stop for the McLaren, who then rejoined in eighth place behind traffic including Yuki Tsunoda, Oliver Bearman and the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, tucked up behind Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes.
Verstappen and Lando Norris were both going long on their mediums, trying for the one-stop strategy on a day of high tyre degradation, with Norris pitting on Lap 28 for the hards.
However, moments later, Esteban Ocon's Haas ground to a halt on the exit of Tosa, bringing out the virtual safety car.
This allowed Verstappen effectively a free pit-stop, rejoining 19.8s clear of Norris as Piastri was still making his way through the traffic.
The race was closed up once again after Kimi Antonelli stopped on Lap 46 at the exit of Tosa, bringing out the full safety car.
Verstappen, Norris and Hamilton all pitted for fresh tyres, with Piastri staying out. On the Lap 53 restart, Verstappen bolted for an easy win as Piastri and Norris fought over second place.
Norris eventually got past on Lap 58 at Tamburello as Piastri completed the podium with Hamilton taking fourth.
Result Race - Emilia Romagna
At lights out, Russell found himself boxed in by Piastri who was defending the inside line, but this allowed Verstappen a free run around the outside.
Verstappen gladly took the invitation and took the lead, with Piastri unable to stay within the DRS, as Norris finally got past the stubborn defences of Russell for third on Lap 11 after running onto the grass.
Leclerc had pitted early to undercut those ahead, and rejoined ahead of Russell after his Lap 12 stop, with Piastri following next time by, but being stuck in the traffic allowed Verstappen and Norris the chance to run long - which they took.
Piastri was hovering about 31.5s behind Verstappen, with 28s needed for a pit-stop, but the Red Bull received a giant dollop of luck after Ocon's Haas stopped on Lap 29, the lap after Norris had stopped.
This free-stop gave Verstappen a near 20s advantage, which was wiped out after Antonelli stopped, with him stopping once again under the safety car.
On the restart with nine laps to go, Verstappen bolted for an easy win, with Norris muscling past Piastri for second place, as the Australian completed the podium.
Hamilton took his best result for Ferrari in fourth following a late charge against Alex Albon and Leclerc, with an investigation launched after Albon was forced into the run-off at Tamburello.
Albon passed Leclerc on the final lap for fifth, with Leclerc sixth, Russell seventh as Carlos Sainz made it double points for Williams in eighth.
The points positions were rounded out by Isack Hadjar in ninth for Racing Bulls, and from the pit-lane, Yuki Tsunoda for Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso's point-less start to the season continued as Aston Martin suffered after the virtual safety car for Ocon.
They stayed out, but on the worn tyres, Alonso and Lance Stroll fell back at an alarming rate, with Alonso taking 11th, - meaning he has equalled his record of seven point-less races from the start of the season from 2015 in a year he has scored points.
Nico Hulkenberg was 12th ahead of Pierre Gasly for Alpine, and Liam Lawson in 14th for Racing Bulls.
Stroll was 15th, whilst Franco Colapinto was 16th for Alpine on his debut for the team.
Ollie Bearman was 17th, ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, the 18th and final classified finisher with Antonelli and Ocon the only two retirees.
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