Formula 1: Forza Verstappen: Sieg returnees in Ferrari-Land

Italy expert Max Verstappen has ended his unusually long winless time in the royal park of Monza with a gala performance. 112 days after his success at the Grand Prix in Imola, the 27-year-old Dutch also won the second Formula 1 race this year in the home country of Ferrari.

After his surprise poles, the four-time world champion gave the McLaren duo no chance with Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri. He referred the World Cup runners and the World Cup leaders to places two and three at the Grand Prix of Italy after a rousing initial phase and a controlled further race.

With the 66th victory of his career and the third this season Verstappen shortened the gap in the classification at least a bit to less than 100 points (94). Piatri, who also lost to Norris and now has 31 instead of 34 points, is in front.

With eight still outstanding Grand Prix ‘, Verstappen’s chances of the fifth title in series are almost only theoretical nature. If the Red Bull also works on the other routes as well as on the high-speed course near Milan, the McLaren pilots, who are rather inexperienced in the World Cup fight, could get nervous.

What did the two Ferraris do in front of a home backdrop?

After the victory a year ago by Charles Leclerc, the emotion podium of Formula 1 remained without Ferrari pilots. The Monegasse came in fourth place, record world champion Lewis Hamilton in position six.

Another caught it before it really started. Of all things, the only German: to put the car into the box, he got the clean on the introductory round. Place of twelve in qualification followed the end of a hydraulic problem before the red traffic lights expired.

Norris rages against Verstappen: “What does the idiot do?”

What the approximately 130,000 spectators were offered without the 38-year-old veteran at least at the beginning was Formula 1 action with asterisks. As soon as the race was free, Verstappen defended his poles with hardness – the 45th of his career. Norris had to go through the grass, it dusted, the Briton snorted. “What does the idiot do?”, The actual Verstappen buddy raged by radio: “First he presses me into the grass, then he cuts off.”

In the subsequent harassment after the start, Verstappen had driven more or less straight ahead. The race management immediately determined that Red Bull Box reacted to avoid a possible punishment. “Give the position back,” sparked the command stand – obeyed. Leclerc used his chance in the royal park under the cheers of the Tifosi and pushed past Piatri. For a long time, however, the Monegasse, who had triumphed in Monza a year ago, could not hold.

Is the Red Bull back to old strength?

Just like Norris the leadership. 15 Grand Prix fought Verstappen this year, sometimes less with his Red Bull, the dominance of the four -time world champion was over. Before the Italy race, he was already 104 points behind Piatri. The Italian pole was already a surprise, but the new underbody also had an obvious effect in the race.

Verstappen grabbed the lead in the fifth round. In the harassment he gave Norris no chance. The Brit, who had to give up a week ago in Zandvoort due to a defect on the McLaren, could not set a counterattack. Verstappen drove out a calm lead.

The first big excitement also subsided. Verstappen ahead of Norris and Piatri, behind it Leclerc in front of Mercedes-Pilot George Russell, before Hamilton followed. After a pending punishment, he had had to leave in the starting line -up instead of fifth place from ten.

Wolfühl program for Hamilton – but no further a podium

The exuberant enthusiasm of the Tifosi for the new Ferrari superstar in the days before the race was noticeable. By the way, the fact that he sometimes got on the route with a motorcycle in the Italian national colors did a one.

Nevertheless, the podium remained out of reach in a Grand Prix for the 40-year-old, seven-time world champion and 105-time racing winner. This was done by Verstappen and the McLaren duo – but again with a turn to the disadvantage of Norris. Piatri came to the box in front of him, no problems. Then Norris was on – and it hooked. He lost so much time that he came out behind Piatri.

The McLaren command stand switched on, asked the Australian to leave its World Cup persecutor-Piatri found anything but good, but followed the instruction. When Verstappen was informed by his racing engineer, he just laughed and said: “Because of a slow pit stop?”. McLaren should be warned.