The superior smile that seems to be the unit facial expressions of the McLaren team members for months seemed frozen the day before the 75th Gran Premio in Monza. Max Verstappen had apparently duped the favorites Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri from nowhere in the speed of Milan with the fastest round of Formula 1 (average speed of 264.682 km/h). The contested facial expression was preserved on the race Sunday, because it quickly became clear to the 130,000 spectators that the defending champion had only got momentum for an even greater act: the Dutch was at the end of Norris, and the winning time of one hour, 13 minutes and 23 seconds marked the fastest race in the Grand Prix story.
Just in time for a hot autumn, the 27-year-old and his Red Bull racing team are suddenly back. Although they were already written off after the personnel, personal and technical crises for the rest of the racing year. The triumph in Ferrari-Land now throws another light on the last third of the season. The deficit of Verstappen is still huge: 96 points on World Cup leaders Piatri, 73 points on Norris. Without further huge surprises, this will be hard to catch up, but if such a turn is to be expected, then stappen.
:Do like Lauda
In Italy there is a concern from the home race in Monza that Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari will hardly build on the success of Niki Lauda or Michael Schumacher.
The new Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies, a trained engineer, has brought the troubled racing car back into balance within a few weeks and thus automatically the driver. Verstappen has regained confidence in the car and the team, and it can better control the risk again. A new underbody on the vehicle is apparently crucial: it is most part in a Formula 1 car, and the motivation gain is correspondingly huge.
Not that Max Verstappen had changed anything in his driving style since his last victory – in May in Imola. The needle right after the start in Monza is always good for duels who can end friendships. In the hustle and bustle of the curve battle, attacker Lando Norris was also about to do that: “What an idiot” he roared after the hard opening maneuver, but he himself was not entirely innocent. Verstappen had too much momentum, had to shorten the chicane illegally and was whistled back from his own command stand so as not to risk a punishment. For a few rounds, Norris was allowed to pretend that he would drive away. The Red Bull Pilot also controlled driving afterwards. As soon as the overtaking aid DRS was allowed to be activated, it was already on it, then over and quickly up and away.
McLaren orders Piatri to leave Norris by. Verstappen is apparently amusing
The field pulled apart. Charles Leclerc in Ferrari and Oscar Piatri in the McLaren fought remarkable duels, no less hard than the maneuvers, and accompanied by both side protests. The Australian caught the mone and then secured his podium. For him, the opponent was not offset, but Norris. It’s about the internal standing and the title fight.
When only a few laps could be driven, Verstappen had fresh pneus and continued to bet with himself, McLaren gave the hope that a safety car phase and a last stop could change a little more on the winner. First Piatri was waved to change the tire, whereupon Norris already sensed a disadvantage. Then the Briton came to get fresh rubber, and once again he was the unlucky bird that clamped the front left bike. Piatri was over. But McLaren operations manager Andrea Stella is a man who believes in fairness and laws, and he did not want Norris to be disadvantaged in the title race for a team error. Piatri was asked to leave his rivals by, which he did. That probably gave karma points. “Only a small incident,” the most relaxed of all Grand Prix pilots later judged. When the leader Verstappen was informed about the campaign, he almost swallowed up with laughter. There are quite a few voices in the paddock that claim that McLaren’s greatest opponent is in the title fight McLaren himself.
Lewis Hamilton did everything to make his first appearance with Ferrari in Monza at least emotionally a reconciliation weekend. The motorcycle with which he got on the track was painted on one side in the Italian national colors and on the other side in passion red. The fifth place in the qualification was very neat, unfortunately a downgrading was still available for five starting places from the previous race. “I will wind myself forward,” he had promised the fans – and held word. After a few rounds he was sixth on Sunday, it was no longer forward, but he can live with the result. The fact that he thanked his mechanics publicly for the work certainly did not harm his reputation. “Lewis is back,” believes Scuderia team boss Fred Vasseur.
This cannot be said of the only German in the field. Nico Hülkenberg made it into the starting line -up as twelfth, again duped by Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, but the Emmerich could not even go into the race because of a hydraulic problem. Hülkenberg has apparently been completely lost the balance that Max Verstappen has just won again. Finding back to the old strength remains for many the great longing for the farewell of Formula 1 from Europe.
