Italian Grand Prix LIVE: F1 updates as Max Verstappen wins in Monza with Charles Leclerc and George Russell on podium
Follow all the latest reaction to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as Max Verstappen moves to brink of defending title
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Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc’s pit-stop gamble backfired.
Ferrari driver Leclerc led Verstappen by two seconds at Monza when Sebastian Vettel broke down after a dozen laps and the virtual safety car was deployed.
Leclerc dived into the pits in the hope of making his rubber last to the end, but 125,000 Ferrari hearts sunk in Monza as the Monegasque was forced to concede the lead when he stopped for a second time.
Their hopes were revived when a safety car was sent out on lap 46 of 53 after Daniel Ricciardo stopped in his McLaren.
But the marshals could not clear Ricciardo’s McLaren before the end, and the race effectively finished behind the safety car to boos from the Ferrari fans.
Verstappen took his fifth win in a row, his 11th from 16 this season, and extended his championship lead to 116 points with just six rounds remaining.
Verstappen will have his first shot at sealing his second world championship in as many seasons at the next round in Singapore on October 3.
Mercedes’ George Russell started second and completed the podium. Carlos Sainz took fourth, while Lewis Hamilton, demoted to the back of the grid with engine penalties, crossed the line in fifth.
A one-minute silence was observed by the Formula One grid ahead of Sunday’s race in memory of the Queen. Italian president Sergio Mattarella was present for the formalities.
Leclerc called on his Ferrari team to end their run of blunders and help him convert his dazzling pole position into victory. But Ferrari’s strategy will again be in the spotlight.
It started so well for Leclerc when he blasted away from his marks and held off Russell heading into the Variante del Rettifilo. The British driver was forced to take to the escape road, and the home crowd roared as Leclerc led.
Verstappen, who started seventh following a five-place grid drop for an engine penalty, was quickly on the move.
By the end of lap one he was already up to fourth, before he sailed past Ricciardo for third. On lap five, the Dutchman eased ahead of Russell for second.
Leclerc was comfortably keeping Verstappen at arm’s length when Vettel’s engine expired. The VSC was deployed, and Leclerc’s engineer was on the radio.
“What do you think about boxing for Plan A?” asked Xavier Marcos Padros. “It will be tight but probably the best solution,” replied Leclerc.
In came the 24-year-old for fresh rubber as the rest of the field stayed out. Could Leclerc make his tyres last 41 laps?
The answer arrived on lap 21 when Leclerc’s race engineer was back on the radio to say Ferrari would revert to ‘Plan C’. The message might have been coded, but it was obvious that Leclerc would need to stop again.
Leclerc assumed the lead on lap 26 when Verstappen stopped. He was 10 seconds clear of the Red Bull driver, but the Dutchman halved Leclerc’s advantage before the Ferrari changed tyres for a second time.
Leclerc left the pits trailing Verstappen by 20 seconds, and, despite a late safety car providing him with hope he could challenge for victory, it was the world champion who claimed yet another win.
Italian Grand Prix
Toto Wolff reacts to third for George Russell and fifth for Lewis Hamilton
Toto Wolff: “We’re on a track that doesn’t suit us, so yes, it’s the best we could have hoped for. It was a bit stuck at the beginning, he was very quick when the tyres came together.
“It’s all to play, we’re 25 or so points behind Ferrari, with six races left, we need to do our best and see.
“There are more blows, the gap is to the leader. The race director always have critics, they followed the rules, could have done it a lap earlier. This is how it should be.
“No training, he [De Vries] jumped in a car he hadn’t driven, he’s shown what he is capable of doing.”
Lewis Hamilton reacts to fifth at Italian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton: "It was a good race. I had fun, I struggled at the beginning. I tried to avoid collisions and was stuck behind the Alpha Tauri once again.
“I made my way through and got the points. The two cards behind had fresher tyres, so kind of glad it finished when it did. I don't remember having contact, there was something damaged on my car, by the tyre. I have no idea if it affected the pace. I don't even know what they're for."
Italian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen reacts to Italian Grand Prix win
“Yeah we had a great race, on every compound we were quickest and the degradation was really good and we had a really good race car and just controlling the gap in the end as the safety car came out, unfortunately we didn’t get a race restart but overall we had a really good day.
“The start was very good I had a clean chicane and I could quickly get back into my rhythm and get into second. It was really good on the tyres, it was really enjoyable to drive today even though it was quite hot out there.
“It took a bit of time to be put on a great podium like this but yeah finally we are on it.”
REPORT: Max Verstappen wins the Italian Grand Prix as he holds off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen claimed his fifth race win in a row as he held off the challenge of Charles Leclerc to win the Italian Grand Prix.
Leclerc started on pole but, with the Scuderia opting for a two-stop strategy did not work, with the Dutchman taking the chquered flag behind the safety car after a late yellow flag.
George Russell, who started second on the grid, finished on the podium in third.
Carlos Sainz took fourth, while Lewis Hamilton, demoted to the back of the grid with engine penalties, crossed the line in fifth.
Verstappen’s win is the latest example of his dominance this season, extending his win streak to five and a total of 11 from 16 races.
Max Verstappen wins the Italian GP as he holds off Charles Leclerc
The Red Bull star has now moved to the brink of defending his world title with the race finishing behind a safety car in Monza
Max Verstappen: We were fastest all week
"We had a great race, we were fastest on every compound. Unfortunately we didn't get a restart, but overall we had a great day,” Verstappen says while being booed by the tifosi.
“Start was very good, I got into my rhythm and second. It was very enjoyable to drive even though it was hot.
“It took a bit of time [to get on a great podium like this, but finally rewarded.”
Italian Grand Prix
Nyck de Vries is voted Driver of the Day, a huge boost on debut with the fans recognising his effort.
The Dutchman grabs some points in ninth for Williams.
He’s laughing, but he’s also in pain, telling his team on the radio his shoulders are in agony.
Italian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen lands first Monza win
Max Verstappen picks up a maiden Monza Grand Prix.
The Red Bull star can win the title in Singapore next.
There are loud boos around Monza, they’re upset at the way this race finished.
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