After six fly-away races, the Formula 1 circus was back in Europe, with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix kicking off another triple-header.

Competition was tighter around here, with most teams carrying out considerable aerodynamic and cooling upgrades.

Here are five points that stood out.

1. Max and Red Bull were in it to claim it. First chicane on the first lap.

While Oscar Piastri (McLaren) made a slightly better start than Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the four-time champ cleverly positioned his car to block George Russell (Mercedes) behind Piastri, at the same time protecting the outside from a possible surge from Lando Norris (McLaren).

There was a lot of debate regarding that Turn 1 tussle in Saudi Arabia between Piastri and Verstappen. This time around, it was payback for Max, overtaking on the outside and claiming the line for Turn 3. The move was reminiscent of Piastri on Norris for the lead at the Italian Grand Prix last year.

What a way for Red Bull to celebrate 400 races—Max claiming the win (his second of the season) and Yuki Tsunoda crossing the line in 10th after starting last. RBR surprised everyone with its pace, for sure.

2. When you can’t win, limit the damage. Which is what Piastri managed to do. That move at Tamburello by Max on the first lap will sting, but seeing how Oscar is, he will move on.

With older tires toward the end, his pace was no match for teammate Norris and crossed the line in third, bagging 15 crucial points. A sensible drive from the Australian.

Piastri remains on top with 146 points, Norris on 133, and Verstappen with 124.

3. Ferrari came alive in the race. Starting 11th and 12th, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) had it all to do in the race.

Hamilton was on hard tires and had pace as good as the medium runners, plus an advantage with a longer first stint (and a timely pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car). He carried out a number of overtakes to finish fourth, his most competitive outing in red so far.

Leclerc likewise showed good pace. Unlike, Lewis, however, the Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car periods didn’t work out for him. He couldn’t pit because he “had no tires left.” Seriously, I had to ask myself if I heard that right.

He was running in P4 (on those older tires) in the closing stages ahead of Alex Albon (Williams) and Hamilton, when Albon attacked at Tamburello (who was ahead approaching the corner) with the Monégasque forcing the Williams driver off the track. He had to let him pass to not get a penalty. Charles finished in sixth.

4. Double points is becoming a habit for Williams. “We are fast on merit. However, we are oddly disappointed.”

You can sense that restless desire from Williams team principal James Vowles as the FW47 is that fast and has that much potential.

But as Carlos Sainz (Williams) put it: “We don’t seem to execute well on Sundays.” Also, Williams is “quicker than Mercedes and Ferrari.”

The Spaniard was running strong in the beginning part of the race, but the team decided on pitting him early (“too early,” according to Carlos), with most going for a longer first stint and putting him down the order.

However, the Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car periods worked in his favor, aiding him in getting back into the points-finish positions in the later part of the race.

Sainz crossed the line in eighth (starting ahead of Albon in sixth). He reckons he had the pace for a top five.

Albon finished in fifth. A possible podium? He shares “he could have raced Charles a bit differently,” and he “could even get Oscar up in front as well; such was the pace in the new tires we had on the car.”

We expect Williams to be strong in Monaco.

5. A weekend to learn from for Franco Colapinto. After impressing with strong finishes for Williams last season, the return of Franco Colapinto (Alpine) in a race seat has been a mouthwatering prospect.

We got that, but not the result we were hoping for. But the Argentine was always going to be on the back foot, it must be said.

He crashed in Q2, ending up in P15 (then handed a one-place grid penalty for a breach under the red flag).

In the race, Colapinto made no impression and finished where he started—16th. But the Alpines lacked pace, with even Pierre Gasly not being far ahead in 13th.

Monaco will be even more challenging, but equally satisfying should Colapinto (as well as Gasly) score a good result.

This weekend is the Monaco Grand Prix, and as always, it’s going to be tight around the principality.