Max Verstappen etched his name deeper into Formula 1 history at the iconic Monza circuit, securing a truly remarkable tenth consecutive Grand Prix victory. The Dutch phenomenon showcased unparalleled skill and strategic brilliance to triumph at the Italian Grand Prix, an achievement that underscores his and Red Bull Racing’s utter dominance in the 2023 season. While Verstappen ultimately cruised to a comfortable win, the race itself was a captivating spectacle, filled with nail-biting battles, strategic gambles, and unexpected drama that kept Tifosi and fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.
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The legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, often referred to as the “Temple of Speed,” provided the perfect backdrop for this historic event. The atmosphere was electric, charged by the passionate Ferrari faithful hoping for a home victory. Starting from pole position, home hero Carlos Sainz Jnr faced the unenviable task of fending off the formidable Red Bull of Verstappen, who began the race alongside him on the front row. The stage was set for an epic showdown between the Prancing Horse and the raging bull.
The pre-race build-up added a layer of unforeseen tension and chaos. As drivers prepared for the initial formation lap, the vast majority of the grid opted for the medium compound tyres, a popular choice for its balance of grip and durability, especially under Monza’s high-speed conditions. A notable exception was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in eighth, who gambled on the hard compound tyres, a strategy aimed at an extended first stint and potentially a single stop. However, just as anticipation reached fever pitch, the start was dramatically aborted. Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri suffered a critical power unit issue, billowing smoke as it ground to a halt just before the final corner of Alboreto (formerly Parabolica).
This mechanical failure triggered an initial abort, sending drivers for an extra formation lap as the marshals worked to clear the stricken AlphaTauri. Yet, the drama wasn’t over. Tsunoda’s car remained stuck on the grid, proving difficult to recover promptly. This necessitated a second abort and a formal delay of over twenty minutes, during which mechanics were permitted back onto the grid – a rare occurrence that further heightened the suspense and provided an unexpected opportunity for teams to make last-minute adjustments. The extended delay tested the patience of both drivers and fans, but it also built anticipation for when the lights would finally go out.
Twenty minutes after the original scheduled start, a third formation lap commenced, and the field at last lined up for the much-awaited start. When the lights eventually extinguished, Carlos Sainz made an impeccable getaway, brilliantly holding his lead into the Rettifilo chicane, much to the delight of the Tifosi. Verstappen initially slotted into second, with Charles Leclerc ensuring a strong Ferrari presence in third, successfully fending off George Russell in the Mercedes. The early laps saw the two Ferraris working in tandem to try and fend off the Red Bull threat.
With DRS activated at the end of lap two, Verstappen quickly entered the one-second window, enabling him to utilize the drag reduction system. However, the Red Bull driver appeared content to bide his time, preferring to conserve his tyres and assess Sainz’s pace during the early stages of the race. Sainz, invigorated by the lead and the roaring support from the stands, put up a staunch defense, driving with precision and aggression to keep the reigning world champion at bay. His car, optimized for Monza’s low-downforce setup, was proving a tough challenge to pass on the straights.
The strategic chess match unfolded over the subsequent laps. Verstappen made his first serious attempt at an overtake at the Rettifilo chicane at the start of lap six, but Sainz expertly rebuffed the challenge, demonstrating incredible composure under pressure. This defensive masterclass also allowed Leclerc to remain within DRS range, creating a tense three-way battle at the front and giving Ferrari fans hope. Verstappen, however, was relentless. He continued to pile immense pressure on Sainz, constantly probing for an opening and forcing the Ferrari driver to push his limits lap after lap, never giving him a moment of respite.
The relentless pressure finally told on lap 15. As Sainz braked into the Rettifilo chicane, he suffered a lock-up, providing Verstappen with the precise opportunity he had been patiently awaiting. The Red Bull rocket immediately drew alongside through Curva Grande, and with superior traction and momentum, smoothly swept past the Ferrari into the Della Roggia chicane, seizing the lead. It was a decisive move that effectively sealed the fate of the race, ending Sainz’s valiant resistance and marking a turning point in the Grand Prix.
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Once in front, Max Verstappen wasted no time establishing his dominance. He rapidly pulled out of DRS range of Sainz, demonstrating the sheer pace advantage of his RB19 and Red Bull’s superior race trim. By lap 19, his lead had stretched to over four seconds, a clear indication of his untouchable performance and flawless control. The pit window began to open, and Sainz was the first of the leading contenders to pit at the end of that lap, swapping his medium tyres for the harder compound. George Russell followed suit, also opting for hard tyres to complete his race stint.
Verstappen and Leclerc responded by pitting at the end of the very next lap, executing perfectly timed stops that saw them rejoin without losing significant ground. Verstappen briefly found himself in sixth place behind Fernando Alonso, who had yet to make his stop. Leclerc emerged immediately behind his teammate Sainz, reigniting their internal battle as he pressured Sainz intensely up to the Della Roggia chicane, though he couldn’t find a way past at that instant. Hamilton, on his starting hard tyres, continued his extended first stint, hoping to make his unique strategy pay dividends later in the race.
Verstappen swiftly navigated past Alonso, who eventually made his own pit stop, allowing the Dutchman to retake the effective lead of the race. With Sainz now running third, approximately five seconds behind, the Red Bull driver appeared to be in a league of his own, steadily extending his lead with each passing lap. Hamilton eventually made his long-awaited pit stop at the end of lap 27, switching to the medium compound tyres for his second stint. This shuffle allowed both Ferraris to move back up to second and third, while Sergio Perez, who had been steadily making superb progress from his fifth-place grid start, found himself right on Leclerc’s gearbox in a fierce battle for third.
Perez, known for his race craft and aggressive overtaking, launched a challenge on Leclerc into the Della Roggia chicane. The Ferrari driver defended robustly, squeezing Perez wide on the outside and denying him the position. However, the Red Bull driver was not to be denied for long. He regrouped and, at the start of the subsequent lap, utilized the potent DRS along the main straight to brilliantly sweep past Leclerc, claiming third place with a decisive move. This put both Red Bulls on course for a 1-2 finish and set the stage for Perez to hunt down Sainz for second.
Further back in the field, intense midfield battles were unfolding. Hamilton, now on fresher medium tyres and pushing hard, was charging through the pack. He caught up to Oscar Piastri for eighth place, and the two young drivers made contact into the Della Roggia chicane while battling fiercely. The collision resulted in damage to the McLaren’s front wing, forcing Piastri into an unscheduled pit stop for repairs and compromising his race. Hamilton was able to continue, but the stewards deemed him responsible for the incident and handed him a five-second time penalty, which would be applied at his next stop or at the end of the race, putting him under threat from the ever-present Fernando Alonso behind.
Meanwhile, the battle for the remaining podium spots intensified dramatically. After multiple laps of persistent pressure and several attempts, Sergio Perez finally found a way past Carlos Sainz for second place with just five laps remaining. It was a well-executed overtake that solidified Red Bull’s dominant performance. Sainz, having valiantly defended against Verstappen, then Leclerc, and now Perez, faced his final challenge – holding off his own teammate for the final podium position. The two Ferraris engaged in a thrilling, wheel-to-wheel fight for several laps, much to the delight and agony of the Tifosi. Sainz, driving defensively but fairly and with immense skill, managed to repel Leclerc’s every attempt, securing a hard-fought P3.
As the laps ticked down, Max Verstappen serenely crossed the finish line, securing his record-breaking tenth consecutive Grand Prix victory. It was a testament to his unmatched talent, the supreme engineering of the Red Bull RB19, and the flawless execution by his team. Sergio Perez followed six seconds behind, completing a dominant 1-2 finish for Red Bull Racing and further solidifying their commanding lead in the constructors’ championship.
The final drama unfolded behind them, with Carlos Sainz Jnr winning the internal Ferrari battle, securing his first podium appearance of the season in a hard-fought third place. His heroic defense against both Red Bulls and his own teammate was undoubtedly a standout performance of the race. Charles Leclerc, despite a strong drive and intense pressure on Sainz, had to settle for fourth, a bittersweet result at Ferrari’s home race.
Both Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, held onto their finishing positions of fifth and sixth respectively, despite each receiving five-second post-race time penalties. Hamilton’s penalty for the Piastri collision meant he finished P6, while Russell retained P5 for an otherwise solid weekend. A superb drive from Alex Albon saw him hold off intense pressure from Lando Norris across the end of the race to claim an impressive seventh for Williams, underscoring the team’s significant progress this season. Fernando Alonso secured ninth for Aston Martin, and Valtteri Bottas grabbed the final point for Alfa Romeo, salvaging a difficult weekend.
Among the rookies, Liam Lawson finished 13th on the road, behind Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri. However, both Sargeant and Piastri received five-second penalties – Piastri for the contact with Hamilton, and Sargeant for an earlier incident. These penalties ultimately promoted the AlphaTauri driver, Lawson, to an impressive 11th place, just shy of a points finish in only his second Grand Prix start, demonstrating promising potential.
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2023 Italian Grand Prix: Further Reading
- Despite close battles at Monza, F1 drivers want more powerful DRS
- Monza “frustrating” for Alonso but Aston Martin expect better form in coming races
- F1 changed rules to stop Mercedes in 2021 but we won’t ‘cry foul’ now – Wolff
- McLaren will bring ‘follow-up to Austria upgrade’ before focusing on 2024 car
- Magnussen explains why his driving style rarely works with the Haas VF-23
Browse all 2023 Italian Grand Prix articles