In an unprecedented feat, Max Verstappen notches up his 10th straight F1 victory, rewriting the history books in the process.
Despite a strong start from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who kicked off the race in pole position, Verstappen was hot on his heels right from lap six. Finally, on the 15th lap, Sainz faltered at the Rettifilo chicane, giving Verstappen the opening he needed to pass him on the way to Roggia.
Once he claimed the lead, Verstappen widened the gap as a fierce contest unfolded behind him between Sainz and Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez.
Perez secured second place with just five laps remaining, leaving Sainz scrambling to fend off his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in a nail-biting race to the finish line.
2023 F1 Italian Grand Prix: The Final Standings
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull/Honda – 51 laps
- Sergio Pérez – Red Bull/Honda – +6.064s
- Carlos Sainz Jr. – Ferrari – +11.193s
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +11.377s
- George Russell – Mercedes – +23.028s
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – +42.679s
- Alexander Albon – Williams/Mercedes – +45.106s
- Lando Norris – McLaren/Mercedes – +45.449s
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin/Mercedes – +46.294s
- Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo/Ferrari – +1’04.056s
A Closer Look: How the Race Went Down
The race had a shaky start as Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri malfunctioned during the warm-up lap, causing a delayed start and shortening the race to 51 laps. Sainz, the pole winner, led the pack right out of the gate, followed by Verstappen and Leclerc. George Russell of Mercedes initially challenged Leclerc but couldn’t surpass him.
Sergio Perez, starting fifth, began to put pressure on Russell during lap eight for the fourth position, but struggled to overtake him. Both racers missed the Rettifilo chicane on lap 14, with Perez temporarily claiming fourth before relinquishing it right back.
On lap 20, several racers pitted, swapping their medium tires for hard ones, including Sainz and Russell. Perez was soon hot on Leclerc’s heels. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who had chosen hard tires from the beginning, briefly led the race until Verstappen passed him on lap 25.
With 20 laps left, Verstappen had built a commanding lead of over six seconds, while behind him, a fierce battle ensued between Sainz, Leclerc, and Perez. The dogfight between the trio continued till the very end, with Perez finally overcoming Sainz with just five laps left.
Perez had to negotiate the Rettifilo escape road twice before making his move stick. Leclerc also managed to pass Sainz momentarily but ended up surrendering his position back at Roggia.
As the checkered flag waved, Verstappen clinched the win by a margin of six seconds over Perez. Sainz and Leclerc finished third and fourth respectively, separated by just a tenth of a second.
2023 F1 Italian Grand Prix: Fastest Laps
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren/Mercedes – 1’25.072
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull/Honda – 1’25.240
- Carlos Sainz Jr. – Ferrari – 1’25.501
- Sergio Pérez – Red Bull/Honda – 1’25.522
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1’25.580
So there you have it, folks! A race that’ll be remembered for Verstappen’s historic achievement and the electrifying battles that took place behind him. I mean, who needs caffeine when you’ve got this kind of adrenaline-pumping action, right?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Max Verstappen Italian GP Win
What record did Max Verstappen break in the 2023 F1 Italian Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen shattered the all-time record by securing his 10th consecutive F1 race victory during the Italian Grand Prix.
Who started the race from pole position?
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured the pole position and led the race initially until Verstappen overtook him on lap 15.
How did Max Verstappen manage to overtake Carlos Sainz?
Verstappen began pressuring Sainz from lap six. It wasn’t until lap 15 that Sainz made a mistake by locking up at the Rettifilo chicane, which allowed Verstappen to outpace him on the way to Roggia.
Who finished in the top three?
Max Verstappen finished first, followed by his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in second, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured third place.
Were there any incidents during the race?
Yes, there were multiple. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri collided, leading to penalties. Norris and Albon clashed at Rettifilo. Leclerc and Perez also had a minor brush during the race.
What happened to Lewis Hamilton?
Hamilton started on hard tires and lost a position at the start. He ended up finishing sixth after receiving a 5-second penalty for a collision with Oscar Piastri.
Why was the race shortened to 51 laps?
The race was shortened due to a delayed start caused by Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri breaking down during the warm-up lap.
How did tire strategy affect the race?
Tire strategy played a significant role. Sainz and Russell switched from medium to hard tires on lap 20. Red Bull also made strategic pit stops that allowed Verstappen and Perez to lead at different points.
Who had the fastest lap?
Oscar Piastri of McLaren/Mercedes clocked the fastest lap with a time of 1’25.072.
What impact did the race have on Mercedes’ performance?
Mercedes struggled during the race, evident from Lewis Hamilton’s 6th-place finish and a 10km/h deficit that further exposed their ongoing weaknesses in F1.
Any surprises in the race?
Yes, Sergio Perez’s impressive climb to second place and the fierce wheel-to-wheel battles among the drivers, especially between Ferrari teammates Sainz and Leclerc, were notable moments.
More about Max Verstappen Italian GP Win
- 2023 F1 Italian Grand Prix Full Results
- Max Verstappen’s Career Stats
- Carlos Sainz’s Pole-Winning Performance Explained
- Red Bull Racing Team News
- F1 Tire Strategy: How it Works
- Ferrari’s Season So Far
- Lewis Hamilton’s 2023 Season
- Oscar Piastri’s Fastest Lap
- Mercedes’ Ongoing F1 Struggles
- F1 Penalty Rules and Regulations
8 comments
Hard to see Lewis struggling this season. But gotta give it to Verstappen, the guy is an absolute unit right now.
That race had more drama than a Hollywood blockbuster. Seriously, Sainz and Leclerc battling it out like they’re in an action movie.
This might sound dumb but what does DRS-ed mean? Saw it when they talked bout Perez passing Sainz.
Delayed start cuz of a tech issue with Tsunoda’s car, wonder what happened there. someone didn’t do their QA tests lol.
Did anyone notice how tire strategy played out? Sainz and Russel switching to hards was interesting. kinda felt like a game of chess but at 200mph.
Perez finally made it, was holding my breath for those last laps. Red Bull’s got a killer team this year.
Man, Verstappen is on fire! 10 consecutive wins? thats insane. Ferrari needs to step up their game.
So many penalties, collisions and drama. who needs Netflix when u got F1.