As in Hungary and Belgium, Max Verstappen also had to take a grid penalty for the Italian GP. Fitting a new internal combustion engine dropped him five places, turning his second position in Q3 into seventh.
Verstappen was on the same starting row as Nyck de Vries, who made his Formula 1 debut this weekend with Williams. The defending world champion made a great start when the lights went out and after a few laps he was up to third place. It did not take him long to place himself behind the leading Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
The Monegasque decided to stop under a virtual safety car period, six laps ahead of Ferrari’s schedule. Verstappen, meanwhile, extended his stop until lap 25, which meant he had younger tires for his second and potentially last stint.
The world champion could have finished the race with the yellows, while Leclerc made an extra stop to ride softs in what was his ‘plan C’ . This left the Dutchman in a relatively comfortable situation, as the race was not restarted after the intervention of the safety car in the closing laps.
The Red Bull driver took his eleventh victory of the season, so the record of thirteen is now within his grasp, as well as his second world title, which he can already achieve mathematically in Singapore.
“We had a great race. We were the fastest in all conditions and the tire degradation was also very good,” said Verstappen.
“So overall we had a very strong car for the race. Towards the end we could have controlled the gap [to Leclerc]. Unfortunately we couldn’t get back on track after the safety car, but as a team we had another very strong day. Okay”.
“The start was good, then I was able to find my rhythm quickly and move up to second. Once at the front it was all about keeping the tires and I really enjoyed being in the driver’s seat. It was quite hot today but we took the correct decisions”, said to conclude the driver who in Singapore could become two-time F1 world champion.
Do you want to read our news before anyone else and for free? Follow us here on our Telegram channel and you won’t miss a thing. All the information, at your fingertips!
