Max Verstappen win Italian Grand Prix for the 1st time

The Italian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen behind the safety car on Sunday (September 11), dashing Ferrari’s home hopes and moving him closer to his second Formula One world title by one race.

Verstappen’s fifth consecutive victory and 11th overall from 16 races this season came at the “Temple of Speed” in a race that ended poorly and to boos from the spectators.

Verstappen’s closest opponent Charles Leclerc, who is currently 116 points down with six races left, finished second after taking the pole position for Ferrari.

A fifth straight win for Max Verstappen 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/AYpykOMnUR

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 11, 2022

Mercedes’ third-place finisher was George Russell.

The title race will be decided if Verstappen finishes 22 points ahead of Leclerc in the upcoming race in Singapore on October 2. If not, it continues a week later to Japan.

Verstappen’s 31st career victory brought him even with 1992 champion Nigel Mansell of Great Britain in the all-time standings.

After Leclerc made a second pit stop to swap from medium to soft tyres with 20 circuits to go, Verstappen moved up to third place on the grid and was 19.5 seconds ahead of him at the finish line.

Prior to Lando Norris of McLaren and Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished sixth and earned a bonus point for turning the fastest lap.