In his 31st victory in a Grand Prix, Verstappen did not race across the finish line at full throttle in his Red Bull, but crept past the checkered flag behind the safety car by Formula 1 standards. Damage to Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren and a complicated recovery of the car meant that no more racing was possible in the final laps. In contrast to the controversial 2021 season finale, for example, the race organizers – much to the annoyance of the Italian fans, who would have liked to have whipped Leclerc in the Ferrari forward once more – did not give the race a go.
The Italian newspaper “Tuttosport” therefore also etched: “The GP of Italy was destroyed. Chaos FIA. And who is making up for it now?” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also saw the fans as “the biggest losers”. After the lame end on the high-speed track in the royal park of Monza, the Englishman also called for the rules to be reconsidered. “We’ve got to do this fast,” Horner said. History might repeat itself in Singapore, because there has been at least one safety car phase in every race on the street circuit from 2008 to 2019. Winning the world title is a scenario that Red Bull wanted to avoid.
Bianchi tragedy as a cautionary tale
On the other hand, there were also words of praise for the decision not to allow the race any longer. This time, the race director simply followed the rules “precisely”, emphasized Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. It was different when the World Cup was decided last year, as Mercedes recalled. Back then in Abu Dhabi, race director Michael Masi, who was later dismissed, had done everything for the showdown: And Verstappen overtook and dethroned record world champion Lewis Hamilton, who also reminded of Abu Dhabi following Monza: “That was the only time you didn’t follow the rules Has.”
Verstappen also wins in Monza
Max Verstappen didn’t let a grid penalty stop him at the Italian GP in Monza and took the next step towards defending his title. The 24-year-old Dutchman crowned a successful race to catch up in the Red Bull with his eleventh win in the 16th World Championship race.
In Monza, there was not enough time to salvage Ricciardo’s parked McLaren. “The race might have been released for the show faster,” said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, whose star driver Leclerc had actually already been beaten off in the winning duel with Verstappen and only came back through the safety car phase. However, safety was paramount during the salvage: the images of Jules Bianchi’s Marussia in 2014 in Japan under a salvage crane actually burned into the collective Formula 1 memory as a warning. The Frenchman died in the summer of the following year, the injuries had been too severe.
Verstappen enjoys without thinking
Even if there had been an interruption and a restart in Monza: “I wouldn’t have been very worried,” emphasized Verstappen. He’s too superior, too confident, too strong this year. The 2021 title has allowed the Dutchman, who used to drive brutally, to mature amazingly. In addition to the driving qualities of the highly talented, there is also a car that forms an unbeatable unit with Verstappen, as the fans last knew at Mercedes with Hamilton. So it’s no wonder that Verstappen is only two wins away this year from the season record set by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
“It’s great what we’re experiencing with the team. It’s also important to enjoy it. We’re having a great season,” emphasized Verstappen, for whom the crowning glory is possible once more at the upcoming race in Singapore at the beginning of October. If the 24-year-old leaves the Asian city-state with a 138-point lead over his nearest rival, the title can no longer be snatched from him in the four remaining races. “I also need a bit of luck for that”, cautious following three races on three consecutive weekends.
The possible repetition of the world title does not play a role, Verstappen repeated in Monza: “I don’t think regarding it. I just want to travel to Singapore and try to win this race as well.” Motorsport consultant Helmut Marko would prefer his protégé to be crowned early rather than later. “Singapore would be a good place to celebrate. Certainly better than Suzuka. But I don’t think it will happen,” said the Styrian with regard to the race in Southeast Asia and shortly followingwards in Japan. Nevertheless, Marko was already looking to the next goal: “Now we have eleven victories, 13 is the record and there are still five races to go. Would be nice if we might increase that to 14.”
