The Italian Grand Prix is set to take place on September 3, 2023, marking the fifteenth race of the season and the second race after the summer break.
Italian Grand Prix
Since 1950, with the exception of 1980, the Italian Grand Prix has been held annually at the Monza circuit. It stands as the only circuit in Formula 1 with such a long racing history. The track spans 5.793 km and is renowned as the fastest circuit of the season. The long straight stretches allow for high-speed racing, resulting in an average speed of a staggering 250 kilometers per hour. The circuit features eleven turns.
Monza hasn’t been particularly favorable for Verstappen. Over the past five years, he hasn’t secured a single podium finish in Italy, often due to a lack of power with the Red Bull. 2018, his best finish was fifth on the power-oriented circuit. In 2020, Verstappen retired due to engine issues. In 2021, he collided with Hamilton, landing on top of the Mercedes car.
The formation lap encountered a setback when Yuki Tsunoda experienced a breakdown on the track, leading to the removal of his car via truck. Subsequently, an extra formation lap was initially attempted, but a 20-minute delay was eventually enforced. Following the delay, a third formation lap took place just before the race commencement. As a consequence of these two unscheduled formation laps, the race distance was shortened by two laps.
Verstappen’s Dominance Continues
Despite Carlos Sainz Jr.’s strong start from pole position, his lock-up on lap 15 altered the race dynamics, allowing Max Verstappen to seize the lead after a successful overtake. George Russell and Sergio Pérez battled for fourth place, and Pérez’s temporary overtake resulted in both cars missing the chicane, leading to a penalty for Pérez. Esteban Ocon’s incident with Russell added more drama, resulting in a five-second penalty for the latter.
Verstappen’s commanding lead created a significant gap, while other drivers engaged in fierce battles. Close duels between Pérez and Charles Leclerc unfolded, and Lewis Hamilton’s attempt to pass Oscar Piastri ended in a collision, earning Hamilton a five-second penalty. Despite the penalty, Hamilton maintained his position over Alexander Albon.
In the final laps, Sainz faced challenges, conceding second place to Pérez. Leclerc experienced lock-ups, narrowly avoiding collisions. Sainz’s late lock-up in the first corner secured Verstappen’s victory, marking his second consecutive Italian Grand Prix win. Verstappen’s ten consecutive wins surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record, and Red Bull Racing extended their constructor record to 15 consecutive victories since the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Italian Grand Prix F1 Italian Grand Prix F1
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