Yahoo Autos Italian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen booed by Ferrari fans after beating Charles Leclerc under Safety Car
Max Verstappen wins from Charles Leclerc under Safety Car
Fans at Monza boo Verstappen after his win
George Russell third for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton fifth
Formula One must rethink its rules to clarify baffling grid penalties
From the moment the speakers failed during Andrea Bocelli’s rendition of the Italian national anthem on the Monza grid, leaving the Tifosi unable to hear a thing, the omens for a Ferrari win on home soil were not good. Sure enough, Red Bull’s runaway championship leader Max Verstappen came stomping through the field to claim his fifth win on the bounce, his 11th of the season, and thus take another giant leap towards the world title.
Verstappen is very nearly there now. He could feasibly do it as early as the next race in Singapore. It is unlikely. Verstappen would need not only to win but for Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and George Russell all to finish well down the field. He will likely have to wait until the following race in Japan. But it hardly matters any more. The air has long since seeped out of this championship.
Sunday’s deflating Italian Grand Prix was a case in point. The atmosphere pre-race was great, with Leclerc on pole thanks to a brilliant qualifying session on Saturday, and Verstappen back in seventh thanks to his five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine. The packed grandstands at Monza were bouncing, albeit the minute’s silence, observed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, was impeccably observed.
Perhaps the fact that speakers did not work for the Italian national anthem was an omen. Maybe it was Ferrari’s yellow livery, part of the Scuderia’s ongoing celebrations to commemorate 75 years since the company's foundation.
Whatever it was, the mood fell decidedly flat as Leclerc’s tyre strategy - trying for a two-stop when most drivers went for a one-stop - backfired. A thoroughly anti-climactic day was completed when the race controversially finished behind a safety car, which came out on lap 47 of 53 after Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren broke down on track and could not be removed in time.
That finale created a fair bit of controversy, with differing views on how the race director should have handled it and even questions as to whether it might have got going again but for an error from the safety car, picking up Mercedes’ George Russell in third rather than Verstappen in first.
Ferrari’s team principal Mattia Binotto - a man who looked as if he had aged 10 years in two hours under the watchful eye of Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Ferrari chairman John Elkann - was fuming by the finish.
But the truth is Verstappen would have won anyway. After all the nonsense over grid penalties, with nine drivers penalised and the FIA taking nearly four hours to work out the grid order following qualifying on Saturday, the race was actually pretty straightforward.
Verstappen, starting seventh, wasted no time in scything his way through the field. By the end of the first lap he was already up to fourth and right behind Mclaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in third. Verstappen swept past his former teammate on the straight.
From there it took the world champion just three more laps to catch Mercedes’ George Russell, who put up little to no resistance heading into the first chicane.
Only Leclerc was left ahead of him but fans were denied the chance to see any wheel-to-wheel action when, on lap 11, Sebastian Vettel swung over to the side of the track with smoke billowing out of his Aston Martin, and a virtual safety car was deployed.
Ferrari took the decision to switch Leclerc to a two-stopper, Leclerc diving into the pits for fresh rubber, when conventional wisdom states that Monza works best as a one-stopper.
That was what Verstappen did, making his tyres last until lap 26, and coming out 10 seconds or so behind Leclerc who could only last another seven laps before stopping for a second time.
When the Ferrari driver emerged from his stop, he was 18 seconds behind Verstappen with 19 laps left to run and praying for a safety car. It duly arrived. Unfortunately, it never left.
Elsewhere, Mercedes battled well, with George Russell finishing third and Lewis Hamilton going from 19th to finish fifth, just behind the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. But Verstappen was in a class of his own. The coronation is not far away now.
Italian Grand Prix, as it happened
04:05 PM
Excellent scenes on the podium, whether they booed or not
Thanks for joining me today. Stay tuned for more over the next couple of days from Tom Cary in Monza and myself.
03:59 PM
Toto Wolff speaks to Sky Sports F1
I think you see that on the tracks that don't suit us we are clearly third on the road, so third and fifth is the maximum. Once the tyres came together he [Lewis] was very quick. I think it's all to play for, we are 25 points behind [Ferrari, in second] with six races left. We just need to do the best every single weekend. It would maybe a bit [soften the blow] but there are more blows when we are ending up 30 seconds behind the leader.
The race direction is going to be under [criticism] but in this time they followed the rules.
03:58 PM
Lewis Hamilton speaks after the race
It was a good race. The guys were saying that anywhere between sixth and fourth was possible. I had fun, I struggled at the beginning with the tyres heavy... tried to avoid a collision at the first corner but ended up stuck behind an AlphaTauri. At the end the two cars behind had fresher tyres so kind of glad [it finished how it did].
Don't think he could have got much more than fifth, which seems like a decent result.
03:48 PM
Christian Horner thinks it was not a good look to finish like that
There was enough time to get the race going. They picked up the wrong car. We had the faster car, we would have liked to have won the race on the track not behind the SC. I'd just like to see the race play out. it was all set for a grandstand finish that we didn't get to see.. it goes against the principles we've discussed.
The biggest losers today were the fans. I think they had more than enough time to get that going. They picked up the wrong car and then they had to let all those cars catch up again. For me there was more than enough time to get that race going again.
03:46 PM
Was that an unsatisfactory finish?
Yes, in some ways. They could have red flagged it and then had a standing restart. But would that have been "right" or along the lines of the "wrong" that was done in Abu Dhabi?
03:44 PM
Updated constructor standings
Not as good a day for McLaren as it could have been. Norris only seventh as Alpine fail to score.
03:36 PM
Updated driver standings
That gap just grows and grows. Verstappen can win the title in Singapore in three weeks' time. He will do it, by my calculations, if he outscores Leclerc by 14 points in Singapore. So that's a Verstappen win with Leclerc in fifth or fourth, if Verstappen gets a fastest lap bonus point.
03:34 PM
George Russell reacts to another podium
I said on the radio to the team, it doesn't matter if we're fast or slow we keep getting these podiums. We can look back on these races... two podiums and P4, we've got to be happy with that. I'm pleased that we tried something.
03:33 PM
Charles Leclerc reacts to a disappointing second
The end was frustrating... unfortunately we were second at that place because of what happened before. I wish I could have won in front of the amazing tifosi we have here but I couldn't today. We didn't know what [RB] were going to do, so we took that choice [for a second stop]. I think the pace was quite strong today. We will have to look into it but I think we were quite strong.
Didn't sound like there was many cheers for him.
03:32 PM
Verstappen reacts to his win
We had a great race. On every compound we were quickest. We had a great race car. Overall we had a really good day. Start was very good, I had a clean chicane and I could quickly get into my rhythm. It was really enjoyable to drive today... great day for us.
A few boos which then turn to cheers.
03:30 PM
Perez gets the fastest lap bonus point
But he finished down in sixth. Not a brilliant result, but he had that brake issue earlier in the day and an early pit stop.
03:30 PM
Well done Nyck de Vries
Only found out about an hour before FP3 that he'd be driving for Williams after Albon's absence. He qualified 14th and finishes ninth and wins driver of the day. A fantastic debut for the Dutchman. Two Dutch drivers in the points for the first time since... I have no idea.
03:27 PM
Italian Grand Prix - Classification
VER
LEC
RUS
SAI
HAM
PER
NOR
GAS
DEV
ZHO
OCO
MSC
BOT
TSU
LAT
MAG
OUT: RIC, STR, ALO, VET
03:26 PM
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
That Red Bull is a rocket ship at the moment. Leclerc drive an excellent race but did not have the car beneath him to really compete - hence Ferrari's contra-strategies.
03:25 PM
FINAL LAP
No jeopardy in the end, then. But a deserved victory for Verstappen. Was it ever in doubt? Maybe for half a lap.
03:24 PM
Tom Cary from Monza
Tell a lie. There was a bit of booing just then as Leclerc was told the race would finish behind a SC.
03:23 PM
RACE TO FINISH BEHIND SC
"Come on. It's clear... come on," Leclerc says when informed of this. Probably sums up the race, really.
03:21 PM
Lap 52 of 53 - Tom Cary on the situation at Monza
What an anti-climax. The main grandstand opposite the media centre is packed full of Ferrari fans but it is almost completely silent.
A bit of a shame but, really, Verstappen was winning the race comfortably.
03:20 PM
Lap 51 of 53 - Russell overtakes the SC
As do a few other drivers. Not really sure how this is going to pan out... it will probably finish under the Safety Car. Verstappen now the lead car behind the SC. I think this will be it.
03:18 PM
Lap 50 of 53 - Current 10 top under SC
VER
LEC
RUS
SAI
HAM
PER
NOR
GAS
DEV
ZHO
Verstappen still has not caught the SC. And he won't. Russell is behind the SC, but is obviously 80 seconds behind Verstappen. Verstappen has all of the field but Bottas, Tsunoda, Latifi, Leclerc and Mick Schumacher between himself and the SC.
03:16 PM
Lap 49 of 53 - McLaren of Ricciardo looking difficult to budge
Possibly stuck in gear... that does not bode well for a racing restart. Only four laps left after this one.
03:14 PM
Lap 48 of 53 - Verstappen has not yet caught the SC
So that means he will not really lose any time in stopping. So it won't give George Russell or Charles Leclerc track position. It might add some jeopardy with a potential restart, but that's if they can get any racing laps in. That is not guaranteed. In comes Leclerc too.
03:13 PM
Lap 47 of 53 - Could this change the complexion of the race?
It might do... but it might not.
03:13 PM
Lap 46 of 53 - YELLOW FLAGS
Ricciardo is out! "I've lost the engine," he says. That will surely be a full safety car...
Mechanics out in the pit lane. Verstappen carries on. What does Leclerc do? It's just yellow flags at the moment, so no real time to be gained.
Now it is the SC.
Russell is far enough behind to come in, and in he comes! Sainz also comes in.
03:11 PM
Lap 46 of 53 - Top 10 and gaps
VER
LEC +16.8
RUS +30.7
SAI +39.4
HAM +64.3
NOR +68.3
PER +73.0
RIC +84.7
GAS +1 LAP
DEV +1 LAP
03:09 PM
Lap 45 of 53 - Verstappen leads Leclerc by 17.0s
He laps De Vries at Ascari and that sequence has given De Vries a bit of breathing room for the next lap or so. Leclerc currently holds the fastest lap bonus point... but Perez might now be favourite for it.
03:08 PM
Lap 44 of 53 - De Vries now under big pressure from Zhou for 10th
He's lost time to Gasly ahead, now 1.7s. Zhou gets DRs on the Williams but he will soon have to let Verstappen through to lap him.
03:07 PM
Lap 43 of 53 - Verstappen cruising to victory here
The VSC stop worked out well for Ferrari but the main issue was the pace in the Red Bull. Ferrari did give up track position in stopping twice but it would have been a tremendous ask for Leclerc to hold Verstappen off.
03:06 PM
Lap 42 of 53 - Red Bull cars out for a pit stop
Is it for Perez? Yes.
03:04 PM
Lap 41 of 53 - Stroll pulls into the pit stops and retires
A double DNF for Aston Martin after a relatively encouraging run after the summer break.
Verstappen leads Leclerc by 18.5s. The Ferrari has made a bit of time up. But nothing remotely significant. De Vries, who is closing in on Gasly for ninth, has Zhou behind him within DRS range.
03:02 PM
Lap 40 of 53 - Full order
VER
LEC
RUS
SAI
PER
HAM
NOR
RIC
GAS
DEV
ZHO
OCO
TSU
LAT
MSC
BOT
STR
MAG
OUT: ALO, VET
03:01 PM
Lap 39 of 53 - This doesn't bode well for the remainder of the season
Even with grid penalties, the Red Bull is favourite. That may change at some of the other tracks, but significantly enough? I doubt it.
03:00 PM
Lap 38 of 53 - Verstappen leads Leclerc by 19.3s
Leclerc set the fastest lap of the race but it was only two-tenths faster than Verstappen...
02:59 PM
Lap 37 of 53 - This has not been a Monza classic
You didn't expect it to be, though, did you? Russell driving very well to a podium here. Sainz 17 seconds behind him and with better pace but I can't see him catching the Mercedes, let alone passing him.
02:58 PM
Lap 36 of 53 - Top 10 and gaps
VER
LEC +19.9
RUS +24.1
SAI +42.4
PER +46.0
RIC +65.4
HAM +65.8
GAS +67.6
NOR +67.7
DEV +68.6
Leclerc not making any significant inroads into Verstappen. Pretty much where he was when he came out of the pits.
02:56 PM
Lap 35 of 53 - Slow stop from Norris
5.3s. Has lost him a couple of seconds and means it loses places to Gasly and Hamilton in the pit exit. With a quicker stop he might have even been out ahead of team-mate Ricciardo.
02:54 PM
Lap 34 of 53 - Leclerc gets out ahead of Russell and in second
So, that leaves him 19.1s behind Verstappen in the lead. He needs to find around a second a lap, now. Hamilton stops from seventh and comes out in 12th. De Vries now unto the points. A mixture of tyres out there now.
VER - M
LEC - S
RUS - H
NOR - M
SAI - S
PER - H
BOT - M
RIC - H
GAS - H
DE - M
ZHO - H
02:52 PM
Lap 33 of 53 - Top six 10 and gaps
LEC
VER +5.5
RUS +25.5
NOR +36.2
HAM +41.7
PER +45.5
SAI +46.0
MSC +57.1
BOT +60.9
RIC +62.3
Plan C for Leclerc, which seems to suggest he will be pitting and going onto the softs. In he comes...
02:51 PM
Lap 32 of 53 - Alonso pits for the first time
It's not for a pit stop, though. He's out of the race and that ends his 10-race-long points-scoring run. Never mind. Gives De Vries, in 12th, a better chance of scoring points on his F1 debut.
02:48 PM
Lap 31 of 53 - Verstappen predicted to be in striking distance in 10 laps
The gap now just 7.1s. Sainz comes into the pits and will surely go onto the soft tyres. Will they have them all ready this time? He locks up on the pit entry... Russell assumes third place. A fresh set of soft tyres goes on that should last him until the end of the race.
02:47 PM
Lap 30 of 53 - Verstappen with another fastest lap
Hmmmm.
02:46 PM
Lap 29 of 53 - Verstappen with a significant tyre advantage
Both cars on mediums, but Verstappen's 13 laps fresher. He also has a pace advantage: half a second faster the last time around.
02:44 PM
Lap 28 of 53 - Verstappen with the fastest lap
The gap to Leclerc in the lead closes down to nine seconds. He was a whole second faster that last lap. Russell not too happy with the hard tyres.
02:43 PM
Lap 27 of 53 - Top 10 and gaps
LEC
VER +10.1
SAI +18.9
RUS +24.1
NOR +28.9
ALO +34.2
HAM +34.3
PER +43.3
MSC +47.4
BOT +49.5
02:41 PM
Lap 26 of 53 - Leclerc resumes the lead with Verstappen's stop
When it all shakes out he leads the Dutchman by around 10 seconds, a little under. At the half-way stage, Verstappen should be able to make those mediums last the remainder of the race.
