Max Verstappen Seeks To Restore Order At Imola As F1 Remembers Ayrton Senna

Max Verstappen will aim to recover and put his friend Lando Norris back in his place among the chasing pack this weekend as Formula One returns to Europe for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The three-time world champion, who leads this year's title race for Red Bull, knows however that after suffering two defeats in six season-opening races he may be vulnerable and McLaren's Norris will be armed with upgrades as he seeks to add to his popular maiden triumph in Miami. 

Most if not all teams will bring revised cars for the seventh race of the season with Ferrari and Mercedes both hoping to reduce Verstappen's advantage at the cramped and atmospheric circuit set in the rolling vineyards of Ferrari's Italian heartland.

Three decades after the blackest F1 weekend in modern times, when Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed on successive days at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the sport will also pay tributes and remember that bleak May weekend. 

Alpine's Pierre Gasly will wear a race helmet repainted in yellow to remember Senna while retired four-time champion Sebastian Vettel is set to drive the Brazilian's 1993 McLaren MP4/8 car at the track on Sunday morning. 

Verstappen, however, will keep it all simple as he seeks to repeat Red Bull's success at Imola in 2022 when he led team-mate Sergio Perez home in a convincing one-two triumph. 

The race was called off last year due to flooding, but in kinder weather it is expected to launch a run of six races in eight weeks as the 24-race championship enters a key period. 

"Imola is an iconic track to race at and we are excited to be back after last year's race was cancelled," said Verstappen, who leads the title race with 136 points