The triple-header to follow the resumption of the 2022 Formula One season concludes in Italy this weekend, with Max Verstappen aiming to inflict another stinging result on Ferrari.
Back-to-back wins in Belgium and the Netherlands have seen the Red Bull ace strengthen his grip on the title, with Verstappen remarkably securing 102 out of the last 104 available – only missing out on the fastest lap in France and Hungary.
Perhaps surprisingly, Verstappen’s plethora of victories in F1 have not yet included triumph on Ferrari’s home soil in Italy – which has seen four different winners in each of the last four races (Lewis Hamilton in 2018, Charles Leclerc in 2019, Pierre Gasly in 2020 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2021).
While the title race looks done and dusted, Ferrari will be determined to secure bragging rights at Monza to provide a boost to a team that has sustained persistent problems this season – most recently with Carlos Sainz’s woeful pit stop last weekend.
Ferrari have taken 21 pole positions in the Italian Grand Prix, more than any other team, and have won on 19 occasions – most recently with Leclerc three years ago.
The Monaco-born driver will have fond memories of that triumph and will hope it presents a platform to propel better results in the remainder of the season to at least apply some pressure to Verstappen.
Mercedes mess
Mercedes looked on course for a first victory of the season in the Netherlands last weekend, Lewis Hamilton leading the way with George Russell tucked in behind and Verstappen sitting third before a questionable call.
Russell requested a pit stop and a change for soft tyres, something that was approved and resulted in Verstappen, having also taken softs, finding himself in striking distance of Hamilton and having no problems leapfrogging his former title rival.
Hamilton was understandably furious after the race, with Mercedes fumbling what may well be their best chance of a win in 2022.
19 wins for @ScuderiaFerrari at Monza.
What a story! ðŸ†ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡¹#essereFerrari 🔴 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/EIDHv4UvGI
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 6, 2022
Alonso record
In his farewell stint with Alpine ahead of his move to Aston Martin for next season, Fernando Alonso is set to equal Kimi Raikkonen’s record of 350 races in Formula One – with nobody else having raced in more.
That record is destined to fall Alonso’s way in the future, and he could snatch another off the Finn, as his next race finish would be his 279th in Formula One – putting him ahead of Raikkonen.
