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: Lap 32/53
Verstappen with a new fastest lap: 1:24.798.
Sainz pits, Norris is through, and so is Perez!
It means the Ferrari, on the soft tyres, will have to navigate his way past the Red Bull.
A great chance though, the Spaniard should fancy a podium finish on the soft tyres.
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 30/53
So Verstappen on the mediums, would Leclerc consider one more stop?
This is delicately poised at Monza.
Sainz now poised to pit soon, the goal might be to come out in front of Perez, who is currently eighth.
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 28/53
Verstappen is no nine seconds off Leclerc after pitting.
Sainz is saying how he’s happy with his speed, but Russell is cutting the gap for that final place on the podium.
Then another six seconds back to Norris.
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 15/53
Verstappen handed an update: “That’s a long stint for Leclerc on those tyres, get back into your rhythm.”
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 13/53
Leclerc, a cheap pitstop, medium tyres to the end.
Verstappen and Russell overtake, but the Ferrari is just ahead of Ricciardo.
Have Ferrari got this right? They said it will be “tight”, do they mean getting those to the end of the race?
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 12/53 - Virtual Safety Car
Vettel is out, but they’ve called a virtual safety car...
Sainz overtakes Gasly seconds before.
1. Leclerc
2. Verstappen
3. Russell
4. Ricciardo
5. Sainz
6. Gasly
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 11/53
Plan B or Plan C?
Binotto asking Leclerc, it’s an open conversation, looks like the Monegasque prefers Plan B.
The gap is +1.258 to Verstappen.
The tifosi are loving this, Sainz up to sixth, sensation from the second Ferrari.
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 8/53
That’s too easy for Verstappen, ruthlessly taking second from Russell.
Now then, Ferrari, what have you got to resist Verstappen?
It’s +1.964 from Leclerc to Verstappen.
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 6/53
Sainz 10th, Perez 13th, on the softer tyres.
1. Leclerc
2. Verstappen
3. Russell
4. Ricciardo
5. Gasly
6. Norris
Italian Grand Prix: Lap 4/53
Verstappen with the fastest lap so far: 1:26.401.
Verstappen up to third and closing in on Russell.
Just 0.445 seconds between them... Vulnerable.
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