F1 Italian Grand Prix: Red Bull's Max Verstappen Breaks Vettel’s Record with 10th Win in a Row at Monza

Max Verstappen crossed the finish line first at Monza in 2023 to win the Formula One Italian Grand Prix. The Dutchman had won his last race in his home country, and he knew that if he won again, it would make it 10 wins in a row, an unprecedented achievement in Formula 1. The race got off to a late start because Yuki Tsunoda's vehicle didn't make it to the grid due to an engine issue, and for a while, it appeared like Carlos Sainz would defend his Ferrari position stubbornly from the front. For 15 laps, the Spanish driver held off his old teammate, but then Verstappen pounced down the straightaway and into turn three after a mistake by the former. After making that pass, the world champion never looked back, crossing the finish line 16 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, who had started the race in fifth place and driven well. Sainz completed the race in third place after teammate Charles Leclerc attempted a move in the closing laps but was unsuccessful and finished fourth.

The Italian Grand Prix provided thrilling action for spectators throughout the globe, with George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, and Valtteri Bottas finishing in the points-paying places.

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F1 Italian Grand Prix: Monza Race Result

Lewis Hamilton's inverted strategy was impressive as he passed the McLarens and Alex Albon's Williams on his way to sixth place. George Russell of Mercedes raced steadily all race long to finish fifth. Hamilton was penalised five seconds for hitting McLaren's Oscar Piastri as he passed him at the second chicane, but he still managed to hold on to second. Albon managed to finish ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren, while Fernando Alonso finished tenth in the Aston Martin ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo despite having his most unremarkable race of the season.

Piastri finished 12th, behind Liam Lawson's Alpha Tauri, since he had to make a pit stop to fix damage following the Hamilton incident. Ferrari's most competitive performance of the season saw them put up a fight against the dominant Red Bull squad in their home event.

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F1 Italian Grand Prix: Ferrari's Intense Monza Battel

Once Verstappen had passed, Leclerc challenged Sainz, but the Spaniard held strong, and the two drivers pitted on laps 20 and 21, with Sainz going in first. Again, Sainz fought off Leclerc's onslaught when the Ferrari driver had returned from his pit stop, and both drivers were under attack from Red Bull's Perez, who completed 18 laps to go past George Russell's Mercedes and into fourth place. On lap 32, Perez attempted to overtake Leclerc via the first chicane, but he was unsuccessful, On lap 33, he tried again at the second chicane and on lap 34, he succeeded.

The Red Bull driver then went after Sainz, who fought back valiantly for many laps until Perez was able to overtake him on lap 46 on the pit straight and into the first chicane. That made Leclerc a threat to Sainz, and it set up a battle between the Ferrari drivers for the glory of a podium finish in front of their home fans. 

As his tyres wore down, Sainz's driving became more frantic, yet he never swerved off the fair side of the road.  Leclerc made many attempts into the first turn, and although his double move and use of the brakes to advance were somewhat questionable as Sainz defended on the penultimate lap, his determination to hold on was that of a giant.