He took the second set in a tiebreak to force the match to a decider as the crowd cheered him on.

The Spaniard blew Djokovic away in the third set to claim one of the best victories in his career.

Djokovic was far from his best as he lost his serve an astonishing nine times, but has plenty of time before Roland Garros rolls around next month.

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Emilia Romagna GP: Qualification and Sprint

F1 Sprint was introduced last season and saw the grid compete across a 100km dash.

The Imola Sprint will be the first of three this season with the Austrian and Sao Paulo races to follow.

The points system has been changed from last year.

The top eight drivers will score points with the P1 driver receiving eight points, down to one point for P8.

It has also been confirmed that the driver who sets the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying will claim pole for the race and not who wins the Sprint.

Qualifying will also determine the grid for the Sprint, with the result of that then forming the line-up for the race itself.

Emilia Romagna GP: Driver Standings

Driver / Car / Points

• Charles Leclerc / Ferrari / 71
• George Russell / Mercedes / 37
• Carlos Sainz / Ferrari / 33
• Sergio Perez / Red Bull Racing / 30
• Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / 28
• Max Verstappen / Red Bull Racing / 25
• Esteban Ocon / Alpine / 20
• Lando Norris / McLaren / 16
• Kevin Magnussen / Haas / 12
• Valtteri Bottas / Alfa Romeo / 12
• Daniel Ricciardo / McLaren / 8
• Pierre Gasly / Alphatauri / 6
• Yuki Tsounda / Alphatauri / 4
• Fernando Alonso / Alpine / 2
• Zhou Guanyu / Alfa Romeo / 1
• Alexander Albon / Williams / 1
• Mick Schumacher / Haas / 0
• Lance Stroll / Aston Martin / 0
• Nicholas Latifi / Williams / 0
• Nico Hulkenberg / Aston Martin / 0
• Sebastian Vettel / Aston Martin / 0

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Emilia Romagna GP: What has been said?

Lewis Hamilton has demanded Mercedes act now to salvage his dwindling title dreams.

“I will be on Zoom calls with our bosses, and really trying to rally them up,” said Hamilton.

“We have got some improvements that we need to make and we need everyone’s support in doing so.

“It is about making sure we leave no stone unturned, that the hunger is there and we are maximising every moment.

“I will be chasing the people in the wind tunnel, the aerodynamic guys, and just looking at every single area.

“There is performance to be gained and we need it now, not in two or three races. I have got to keep that encouragement and energy high.

“I prefer to stay optimistic. There are 20 races to go. I am really hoping we can get in the fight, but with every bit of improvement we make so will Red Bull and Ferrari. It is not going to be easy. The gap is pretty big right now but there is a long way to go.”

Leclerc, a two-timer winner this season, is now 34 points clear of second-placed Russell in the standings. Hamilton is fifth, 43 points adrift.

Hamilton started fifth and moved up two positions to third at the start.

The seven-time world champion drew alongside Lando Norris within metres and then moved ahead of Perez after out-braking the Mexican heading into the first corner.

While Leclerc held off Verstappen to lead, there was drama for his Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz. Following a poor qualifying, Sainz started ninth, dropped to 14th and went in too hot to Turn 9, running across the grass and then sliding into the gravel.

With Sainz’s Ferrari beached in the sand trap, the safety car was deployed before the race re-started on lap seven.

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Three laps later, Perez, in his superior Red Bull machinery blasted past Hamilton to take third, with a Russell-led train forming behind the 37-year-old Mercedes driver.

Hamilton appeared to be struggling, but as the lap counter ticked down, he began to find confidence in his Mercedes. By lap 20, Hamilton had reeled Perez back in, and was crawling all over the Red Bull gearbox before Perez stopped for fresh rubber. Hamilton stopped two laps later and emerged ahead of Perez for a net third.

But Hamilton could not get heat into his new tyres, and Perez outgunned him on the run down to Turn 11 to regain the position. Hamilton was set to launch another attack when the safety car was sent out for a second time.

Sebastian Vettel, who crashed out of final practice and then qualified only 18th, was in the wars again. The four-time world champion ran on to the rumble strip on the exit of Turn 4, lost control of his Aston Martin, and careered into the wall.

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Russell took advantage of the safety car to change tyres, promoting him from fifth on the road to third, and ahead of Hamilton.

“George benefitted from the safety car,” Hamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonnington told him on the radio.

Hamilton replied: “What does that mean? I have lost a position?”

“Affirm,” said Bonnington. “It is just bad luck, Lewis.”

The safety car came in at the end of lap 27. Verstappen sensed an opportunity to move ahead of Leclerc, but the Ferrari driver rebuffed the world champion’s advances.

Russell was soon under pressure from Perez.

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“If you are hurting the tyres to keep Perez behind, you can let him by,” came the message from the Mercedes pit wall.

“That is not what I want to hear,” Russell replied. And on lap 36, Perez got the job done.

Red Bull looked set to have both their drivers on the podium, but trouble struck for Verstappen when he came to a sudden halt.

That promoted Perez to second and Russell on to the podium. Hamilton finished fourth and said in the closing laps: “You guys put me in a really difficult position.”

Lando Norris finished fifth, one spot ahead of McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

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Leclerc, who also set the fastest lap, said: “What a car today. I did a good job but it was not possible without the car. We were extremely strong and I am just so happy. Incredible to win here.

“We are only at the third race so it is difficult to think about the championship. But we have a strong car and a reliable one, and if it continues like this, we have a chance for the championship.”

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“For compliance, I see that as a team manager role, although I’m reliably informed our drivers go commando, hopefully, it won’t be an issue for them. 

“I’ve yet to meet the race director. Obviously, they’re doing the best job they can with the rules they have. I understand it was an entertaining drivers’ briefing yesterday. 

“In the interests of weight-saving, whether you’re losing jewellery or underwear at the moment is quite helpful for us.” 

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was more open about the new rules.

In response to the FIA’s apparent newfound desire to clamp down on drivers’ undergarments, the Frenchman said: “I won’t comment on that.

“If they want to check my arse, feel free, I’ve got nothing to hide. My cock, everything. If that makes them happy, feel free.”

Before the underwear episode, drivers had also been told that body piercings aren’t allowed whilst in the cockpit.

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Seven of the historic track’s corners have been modified, reducing the total number from 16 to 14, and setting Leclerc and Verstappen up for another epic duel.

The duo will fly into turn one in a battle for the lead, which has been improved in preparation.

“Turn one of the opening lap is always a nail-biting moment, where championships can be won and lost in a second,” talkSPORT was told.

“This challenge has been dialled up a notch, thanks to a corner widening of 2.5 metres.

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“Drivers will now have multiple racing lines at their disposal, allowing for more opportunities to overtake in the crucial opening moments of the race and throughout.

“The modification is also designed to support more battles following the corner and into both turns two and three.”

Changes to turn six see the minimum speed to corner is taken at dialled up massively from 149km/h to 219km/h, and things get even more serious later on.

Turns nine and ten of the track used to slow drivers down through an unwanted chicane, which has now been removed, allowing drivers to follow at a huge 330km/h, with the help of a record fourth drag reduction system [DRS] zone.

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F1 circuits had only previously managed a maximum of three DRS zones, but Albert Park has already been bumped down from four after Friday practice following safety concerns.

“If there was ever a moment for big risk and reward, this is the spot,” talkSPORT was told.

Turns 11 and 13 have also been widened and adjusted, allowing multiple racing lines, as well as punishing those who go off track.

It’s estimated that since Albert Park’s 1996 inception there’s only been one single overtake for the lead of the race.

That marks a stark contrast to the opening two races of the 2022 season, where Leclerc and Verstappen have reignited their long-time rivalry with a series of thrilling battles.

And thankfully, with Australia back on the calendar, chapter three of their bout should be able to resume in blockbuster circumstances.

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“For compliance, I see that as a team manager role, although I’m reliably informed our drivers go commando, hopefully, it won’t be an issue for them. 

“I’ve yet to meet the race director. Obviously, they’re doing the best job they can with the rules they have. I understand it was an entertaining drivers’ briefing yesterday. 

“In the interests of weight-saving, whether you’re losing jewellery or underwear at the moment is quite helpful for us.” 

Before the underwear episode, drivers had also been told that body piercings aren’t allowed whilst in the cockpit.

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Verstappen didn’t leave the Mercedes driver enough room as he looked to set a fast time on his flying lap, but the Dutchman didn’t appear to know Hamilton was racing.

On team radio, Verstappen said: “Wait, was he on a lap?

His team replied:: “Hamilton was on a lap, yeah.”

The Silver Arrows remain some way off rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, who have established themselves at the top of the class for 2022. Hamilton ultimately languished almost a full second behind Leclerc – a huge gap in F1 terms.

The top ten drivers were forced to change their visors for Q3 with the sun setting at Albert Park.

“Mate, I can’t see s*** with the sun,” said Verstappen. “I am completely blinded.”

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The final action was then delayed with just six minutes and 58 seconds remaining after Fernando Alonso crashed out.

The double world champion lost control of his Alpine through Turn 11, running into the gravel and then the tyre wall.

“I lost the hydraulics and could not change gear,” he said over the radio.

Alonso had just set the fastest middle sector of all, but will start no higher than tenth. A delay of 13 minutes followed as Alonso’s wounded machine was cleared from danger.

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“He [Verstappen] has got to work hard. Even if you think you’re the best, there’s still more you can do to be better. That’s where Michael Schumacher was so strong.”

One man who raced against both Button and Schumacher is Verstappen’s father Jos, who is now regularly seen supporting his son at race weekends.

Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen, was also a professional racer who Button also battled against.

“When you look at Max’s parents, his dad raced in F1,” Button explained. “I raced against his dad and my first points finish was in Brazil in my second race. To get that point, I had to overtake his dad, Jos.

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“You didn’t want to get him upset. There was a little bit of aggression there.

“He was an amazing talent, one of the best kart drivers ever, and still probably to this day. And his mother, Sophie, I was team-mates with her in karting.

“She was a professional and one of the best in the world, so it’s definitely in the blood.”