Will the incomparable tifosis inject enough energy into the Ferraris to get rid of the ogre Verstappen?
Departure (1)
Everyone is in mediums, except Hamilton, Bottas and Magnussen in hard. We normally count on a single stop, but a safety car is not impossible here, to reshuffle the cards. And Tsunoda will not take the start! The engine smokes in the straight line leading back to the Parabolic. Annoying for the Japanese, 11th, who could play points.
The departure is delayed, and yes, the time to evacuate the Alpha Tauri! The cars set off for a second formation lap. Leclerc seems to be worried on the radio about the behavior of his Ferrari in right turns, but his engineer reassures him, nothing problematic in the data.
Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri is still stuck on the side, the technical teams are at the end of the pitlane to return to the grid but they are not allowed access. Strange situation, quite confusing.
Come on, the truck is finally here to remove the car from the Japanese. And yes, Monza is an old circuit, with complicated access roads: in the part between Ascari and the Parabolic, there are no parallel lanes to the track for a truck to evacuate. The truck is forced to go on track to bring F1 back to the pits. Well, the mechanics are back on the grid.
Come on, at 3:20 p.m., a new formation lap is launched. Sainz has placed himself really ahead, he is in a hurry to leave!
Real start!
Sainz secures the inside and keeps the lead ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc, who are tackled by Russell. Piastri 6th passed Albon. Wise start to the race.
Round 2
Albon passes Piastri back to the della Roggia variant and resumes his P6.
Round 3
DRS is now activated, Sainz will try to keep Verstappen out of his activation zone.
Round 4
Verstappen had the fastest lap and is in the DRS zone of Sainz. Leclerc follows and has made a small gap on Russell. The Dutch note on the radio that Sainz is already slipping, “it’s a good sign” for him. The world champion is not going to rush.
Round 6
Verstappen comes out near Sainz from the parabolic, Sainz resists holding the inside at the chicane and forces Verstappen to release. Max must have remembered Monza 2021 with Hamilton.
Round 7
Leclerc took the opportunity to catch up with the leading duo, on the lookout.
Round 8
Perez attacks Russell at the chicane, takes the aspi in Curva Grande but the Englishman holds on
Round 9
Verstappen is closer on the straight but Sainz is in the middle of the track on the brakes to protect his position. How long will it last?
Round 10
Verstappen notes the high top speed of the Ferraris. He can’t find the opening. For the moment Sainz maintains enough of a lead in the entry of the straight line to keep the lead.
Tower 11
New attack from Perez, but Russell stays ahead. Meanwhile, Gasly goes to the pits and puts on the tough guys.
Round 12
Sainz stays ahead, with Verstappen half a second away and Leclerc watching less than 1 second 5 away! Behind, Russell and Perez continue to turn around.
Round 14
Verstappen was a little winded in the Parabolic, but remained very close.
Perez passes Russell, but the chicane has been cut, Rusell regains his position but the Mexican complains that the Englishman is at fault. It’s really crude as an explanation, while Perez missed his braking!
Round 15
Ouch, Sainz blocks the brakes and comes out of the chicane badly!! Verstappen uncrosses, reaccelerates better and takes the outside in Curva Grande, it’s side by side between the Red Bull and the Ferrari, but Verstappen has the last word in the braking of the Roggia variant by being better placed.
Round 16
Perez passes Russell at the chicane, taking care to pack Russell down a bit.
Round 17/18
Verstappen has already stuck 1.5 to Sainz, now caught by Leclerc. What will Ferrari do? Leclerc seems to have better pace.
Leclerc reports on the radio that Carlos Sainz is struggling with his tyres. In coded language, he asks for instructions to pass and go hunting Verstappen, who now has a 3-second lead. And Perez is coming back too.
Round 19
Sainz at the pits. 3.3, medium. Russell also stopped.
Round 20
Perez comes back strong on Leclerc, the Ferraris eat their tires, as expected. Verstappen stops, as well as Leclerc!
Round 21
Sainz came back just in front of Leclerc at the exit of the pits, Leclerc tried an attack with the Roggia variant but Sainz resisted.
Perez stops with a good save, where will he come out? No, Perez leaves behind the Ferraris. Ouh, it’s hot between Leclerc and Sainz.
Tower 23
Piastri, Norris and Hamilton are ahead. The Mercedes driver is on a shifted strategy in hard. Norris stops.
Russell is under investigation after cutting through chicane 1 and retaining his position coming out of the pits ahead of Ocon.
Round 24
Big Sainz / Leclerc / Perez battle in sight!
Piastri came out of the pits level with Norris, the two McLarens touched slightly at the chicane. Russell takes a 5 second penalty.
Verstappen has already caught up with Hamilton and passes him down the straight to retake P1.
Round 26
Perez took the vacuum on Leclerc on the pit straight but the Monegasque held on. The Ferraris are actually getting in the way, because Leclerc has a bigger pace than Sainz but he can’t pass.
Round 27
The Ferrari/Perez trio catches up with Hamilton. Saine passes Hamilton before Ascari, Leclerc after! Perez takes the outside at the exit of the Parabolic but Hamilton stops anyway. English takes mediums and comes out 10th behind Alonso.
Round 29
Verstappen is 5.6 seconds ahead of Sainz, followed by Leclerc and Perez. Hamilton passes Alonso at the end of the pit straight.
Round 30
Perez was close to Leclerc at the chicane! Sainz took a small length on his teammate, the Monegasque risks losing the DRS on the other Ferrari.
Tower 31
Perez tried at the first chicane but Leclerc kept the inside with heavy braking. Perez tries again in the Curva Grande from the left then from the right, it was hot on the braking of the Roggia variant because Leclerc fell back under braking, Perez put a wheel in the grass!
Tower 32
Perez this time gets the better of Leclerc. Further on, Albon held the P6 in a fight with the McLarens. Despite the absence of DRS, the Thai takes advantage of the V-Max of his Williams.
Tower 34
Verstappen’s best lap which extinguished the tifosis, here he is with 7.3 seconds ahead of Sainz. Perez is 2 seconds behind the Spaniard, and Leclerc follows the rhythm of the Mexican taking advantage of the DRS.
Very nice overtaking from Ocon on Magnussen from the outside at the chicane, but it’s for the P15.
Tower 37
Norris is still stuck behind Albon. Hamilton is gradually returning to the Albon/McLaren group.
Perez is almost in the DRS zone of Sainz and Leclerc is still clinging to the Mexican’s Red Bull.
Tower 38
Norris tries the outside on Albon at chicane 1 but has to cut and gives his position to the Williams. A train will soon form with the return of Hamilton.
Round 40
Perez has the DRS on Sainz. Hamilton tries to pass Piastri to the Roggia variant but both drivers cut.
Tower 41
Perez takes the aspi on Sainz, the Spaniard kept his place but the Red Bull is pressing! Hamilton turns around Piastri and attacks him from the outside in the Curva Grande. Hamilton squeezes a little and they touch! Hamilton goes sideways but keeps control and resumes his journey in front of the young New Zealander, whose wing is damaged!
Tower 42
Rebelote, Perez goes up to the Ferrari of Sainz.
Tower 43
Perez tried the inside at chicane 1 but Sainz closed late. Perez cuts the chicane and makes way for the Ferrari.
Tower 44
Act 12! Sainz protects well, but how long? Leclerc follows the duo.
Penalty for Hamilton following contact with Piastri. English by the way is in Norris’ aspi.
Round 45
Perez cuts the chicane again and passes Sainz. Hamilton passes Norris at chicane 1.
Tower 46
Perez came out of the Parabolic very well. It’s tough between the two Latins, it zigzags in the straight line but the Mexican passes and has the last word.
Hamilton attacks Albon and passes him.
Tower 47
Leclerc attacks Sainz on the straight. He passes but misses braking by locking the brakes. Sainz uncrosses, takes the aspi in the Curva Grande and passes but by blocking the brakes too, Leclerc had to lift. Cold sweats at Ferrari.
Tower 48
New attack from Leclerc, who goes into a small slide at chicane 1.
Round 49
Big blockage of brakes from Sainz at chicane 1 on a new attack from Leclerc, the two drivers did not give each other a treat. Nice show, but Sainz asks Ferrari to freeze the positions. “Guys, we’re home! They still turn around in chicane 1. Stressful for the Scuderia.
Leclerc receives the message: “no risk” and… he makes a huge block at chicane 1 by attacking Sainz! He could have touched his teammate, we are close to the catamaran. He has to cut, the Spanish also to avoid contact but he keeps his place. Fred Vasseur will appreciate.
Arrival
Verstappen wins ahead of Perez. 10th victory in a row for the Dutchman, who now alone holds the record for consecutive victories. Leclerc tried everything to the end, he was still in a sliding attack in the Parabolic and Sainz is only 3rd by a hair! The Ferraris were not unworthy, but the grip of the tires made the difference for Red Bull. The Ferrari staff must have had goose bumps on the battle of the last laps. We see that the congratulations are fresh between Sainz and Leclerc.
George Russel is 5th ahead of Hamilton who, despite his penalty, managed to create a sufficient gap with a good pace to keep P6. Albon, 7th, resisted Norris, Alonso is 9th ahead of Bottas who snatch a salutary point for Alfa Romeo.
Rankings
In the championship, Verstappen has 364 points against 219 for Perez, a chasm. The Mexican in any case secures his 2nd place in the championship, while Alonso and Hamilton remain 3rd and 4th with 170 and 164 points. Sainz (117) and Leclerc (111) take a few lengths on Russell.
On the manufacturers’ side, Red Bull has more than double the points of Mercedes (583 against 273). The star firm is widening the gap and above all Ferrari is back ahead of Aston Martin with 228 points against 217.