The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza - one of the most historic circuits in Formula One, was back for another year to host the Italian Grand Prix. And, with Ferrari looking strong throughout the weekend, leading up to the race; many found the long-awaited optimism that Red Bull and Max Verstappen could finally be stopped in their tracks from making even more history and extending their consecutive win streaks.
Ferrari, racing in front of their beloved Tifosi, started the weekend in the most unexpected way - showing more pace than Red Bull. Something which was confirmed when Carlos Sainz beat Max Verstappen to pole by +0.013. The second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc would join them in the top three.
Race day, and for once the sun is shining - after several races this year have found themselves shrouded in rain. The majority of the field will be starting on the yellow striped medium tyre. Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen have gone with the hards. The grid clears, and Sainz gets off the line, leading the field away for the formation lap.
However, the drama begins before the race even starts, with an Alpha Tauri pulling off the track. Yuki Tsunoda seems to have had an engine failure on the back straight, which means an aborted start for the rest of the drivers who have made their way back to the grid. By the time the field makes it back after a second formation lap, Tsunoda's car is still stricken, with no word from Race Control on what will happen next. Eventually, mechanics are allowed onto the track to tend to their cars while Tsunoda's car is loaded onto a trailer and moved to safety. Ten minutes have passed and a third formation lap is now underway, reducing the race from 53 laps to 51, compensating for the extra formation laps. This time, everything goes to plan. And, with 19 drivers lined up, the lights go out. The race is finally underway.
It's a clean start for everybody with Sainz leading the pack into the first chicane, Verstappen and Leclerc hot on his tail. George Russell and Sergio Perez complete the top five. Although positions have stayed static at the front of the field, there's movement further down with the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg passing Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. On lap two, Alexander Albon regains sixth position that he lost to Oscar Piastri at the start of the race, whereas Lewis Hamilton goes wide at the Parabolica, dropping back from the second McLaren of Lando Norris, in the process. But by the time DRS is enabled, it's still Sainz leading out front.
Verstappen, who is staying within a second of Sainz, is noticing that the Ferrari is "already sliding a bit," something he reports to his team over radio. Is this why he doesn't seem in any hurry to attempt an overtake? However, the Red Bull driver starts thinking about it at the start of lap six, going into the first chicane. Sainz cuts him off, with Verstappen venting over team radio, telling his team "that was naughty." Leclerc, who is waiting to pounce in third, gets closer to the top two while they tussle for position.
Another battle starts brewing for fourth position between Russell and Perez. Russell finds himself having to defend the inside line at turn one. His Mercedes team, however, asks the British driver for some tyre management, something Russell is unable to focus on while he is under attack from behind. By the start of lap eleven, the two are still battling with Russell consistently out-braking Perez into the first turn.
Also on lap eleven, the first action begins in the pitlane with Pierre Gasly pitting for Alpine. Zhou Guanyu also pits, covering a potential undercut by the French driver. Liam Lawson, still deputising for Daniel Ricciardo at Alpha Tauri, is in aswell, attempting an undercut on Fernando Alonso that could push him into the points. During this there is also action at the front of the field, with Perez and Russell both missing the first chicane. "He pushed me off," Perez tells his engineer. They stay as they were, unlike our leaders. On lap fifteen, there's a big lock up for Sainz going into turn one, giving Verstappen the momentum to attempt a move around the Curva Grande. At the second chicane, the Red Bull gets the move done, relegating Sainz to second. Verstappen is quick to create a two second gap to the Ferrari, as Sainz falls back into the clutches of Leclerc. One lap later, the second Red Bull of Perez finally gets past Russell, making the move stick for fourth.
Hamilton and Bottas, who both started on the hard tyre, currently find themselves in eighth and tenth as those around them start to pit. This includes Sainz who tells his Ferrari team "tyres are nearly finished." He returns to the track in ninth, on hard tyres. Russell, Verstappen, Leclerc and Perez also pit, switching to the hards. An incident quickly gets noticed by the stewards for Russell gaining an advantage over the Alpine of Esteban Ocon at pit exit. He is slapped with a five second time penalty. Down at McLaren, team personnel find themselves having to hold their breaths as there is a close call between their drivers, as Piastri leaves the pit lane. He bashes tyres with Norris going into turn one, but all is ok and the two carry on.
Hamilton, who is yet to pit, momentarily leads the race. Unfortunately, for the seven time World Champion, it's not for long, with Verstappen passing him on the start/finish straight. The Ferrari duo still sit behind Verstappen and follow him pass the Mercedes who pits at the end of the lap. He's gone from the hard tyre to the mediums, something that seems to concern him. "It's a long way to go on this damn tyre man." 23 laps remain.
Perez, in the second Red Bull, starts to catch the Ferrari duo. Leclerc, ahead of Perez, becomes a problem for the Mexican, as he has DRS from his teammate. But, after several failed attempts at an overtake at turn one, Leclerc looses DRS and Perez pounces on lap thirty two, taking the final podium spot. His next target is Sainz. As for Verstappen, he is well over six seconds ahead of this battle, posting the fastest lap of the race. A 1:25.240.
There is also a battle on-going for the final point positions. Albon, who currently sits in sixth, is defending from Norris, who cuts the first chicane while attempting an overtake. As per racing rules, his gives the place back to the Williams driver. While this still rages on, Piastri and Hamilton catch up to the back of the Williams and the McLaren. But, as Hamilton attempts a move on Piastri at the second chicane, the two make contact, with the former having to pit for a new front wing.
Back at the front, the Sainz v Perez v Leclerc battle is heating up, with Sainz having to defend over the charging Perez, who is still being out-braked into turn one. Elsewhere, a retirement seems to have gone under the radar with Esteban Ocon ending his race in the pits. But, for Piastri and Hamilton, the previous incident between the pair is now under investigation. Replays tells us that Hamilton pulled across Piastri, squeezing him in the process. And, alas, it's a five second penalty for the Mercedes driver. After his front wing change, Piastri goes and sets a new fastest race lap, with a 1:25.072.
Sainz and Perez are still battling into turn one, with Perez having to take to the run off. "He's moving under braking," Perez complains over team radio. He tries again the next time around and again, takes to the run off. But, on lap forty six, he manages it, taking second place away from the Ferrari at their home race. As for Sainz, he now has his teammate breathing down his neck, and low tyre grip gives Leclerc a chance into turn one. However, Leclerc's braking is all wrong and Sainz keeps third. They battle, side by side, all the way around the Curva Grande to the second chicane. It's relatively clean racing from the pair, despite nearly coming together.
Hamilton, with his looming penalty, is making up ground by getting past Norris and Albon. He needs five seconds to the driver behind for his penalty not to have any effect. But, back to the action for the final podium spot and the Ferrari duo are back at it. With just a couple of laps left to run, Sainz has a horrific lock up into turn one but manages, somehow, to still hold Leclerc behind. He tells his team "let's bring this home." Leclerc, on the other hand, is told "no risk. Race until the end." So, race but don't race, basically. However, Leclerc ignores what he's been told and takes a lunge on the final lap. This time he locks his brakes and very nearly collects his teammate. They carry on fighting for third.
But, it's Verstappen out front that takes the chequered flag, making it ten races out of ten, obliterating previous records. Perez comes home second for Red Bull, with Sainz clinging onto that podium for dear life. Leclerc settles for fourth, and despite their penalties, Russell and Hamilton come home in fifth and sixth. Albon takes seventh for Williams with Norris, Alonso and Bottas the final point scorers.
This definitely has to be one of the more entertaining races of the season, so far. And, that's with Verstappen's dominance. But still, the question is yet to be answered. Can anyone stop Verstappen?
Next up, Singapore.
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