Max Verstappen rewrote Formula One historical past on Sunday, securing a exceptional tenth consecutive victory and claiming the highest spot on the Italian Grand Prix, as soon as once more showcasing Red Bull’s formidable dominance.
The reigning world champion dominated on a stupendous day in northern Italy, which left Ferrari followers disenchanted, with Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez ending second forward of dwelling hope and pole-sitter Carlos Sainz.
Red Bull hailed a “stroll in the park” after a superb one-two, which prolonged Verstappen’s lead on Perez on the prime of the drivers’ standings to 145 factors and in addition maintained an ideal group file of 14 wins from as many GPs this season.
“I never thought at the beginning of the season that something like this was possible. Very proud, but also just very happy with the race in general,” Verstappen informed reporters.
“At one point, Carlos had a little lock up, which gave me a little run at turn two and once I got into the lead, I could just focus on my own pace.”
Spaniard Sainz crossed greater than 11 seconds behind Verstappen regardless of a valiant efficiency in an thrilling race.
The pink sea of dwelling followers loudly chanted “Carlos, Carlos” in appreciation of Sainz’s first podium end of the 12 months, simply forward of fellow Ferrari man Charles Leclerc, who was the final Scuderia driver to win at Monza in 2019.
“Very happy because P3 at Monza in front of the ‘Tifosi’ is as good as it can get, at least for this weekend because Red Bull were in the end quite a bit quicker than us as we expected,” mentioned Sainz.
“It was a day to try and I did everything I could to keep them behind.”
Verstappen has now gained 12 of this season’s races and is all however sure to say his third consecutive F1 title after breaking a file he shared with Sebastian Vettel by profitable in Zandvoort final weekend.
Record breaker
He wants 4 extra wins from the season’s remaining eight GPs to interrupt his personal file for victories in a single 12 months and is 90 factors away from the all-time highest tally of 454 he amassed in 2022.
The Dutch driver made it 10 in a row in a race that was delayed by 20 minutes and minimize to 51 laps after Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri automotive suffered a power-unit failure in the course of the pre-race formation lap.
Sainz knew he needed to hold Verstappen at bay within the opening two corners simply after lights out and he drew a large cheer from the stands as soon as he was around the third Biassono flip and nonetheless forward.
Verstappen was virtually hooked up to Sainz’s rear, with Leclerc pursuing shut behind in help of his teammate.
But Sainz’s resistance ended at first of lap 15 when Verstappen pounced on a gradual exit from the primary nook and surged into the lead.
Verstappen was again in entrance 10 laps later after a spherical of pit stops, blowing previous former title rival Lewis Hamilton and displaying the remainder of the sphere a clear pair of heels.
With first place all however sewn up, Ferrari battled to maintain the 2 different podium spots, however Perez slipped previous Sainz at first of lap 45 to display Red Bull’s dominance.
All that was left was for Ferrari’s pair to battle for a spot on the rostrum, with Sainz simply holding on after one other race through which nobody might deal with Red Bull’s energy.
Red Bull’s closest challenger, Fernando Alonso, fell 194 factors behind Verstappen after ending ninth, with Lewis Hamilton looming over his fellow veteran’s shoulder within the general standings following a creditable sixth spot.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, 38, trails Alonso by six factors regardless of a tough weekend in his Mercedes, with whom he confirmed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
Last season, Hamilton didn’t win or declare pole place at any GP for the primary time in his profession and he appears a great distance from including to his file 103 race victories.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
