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Charles Leclerc (exceptionally in yellow): Ferrari's hopes of triumphing in Monza died shortly before the end of the race
Photo:
IMAGO / IMAGO/Marco Canoniero
Shaking the wreck:
Daniel Ricciardo's McLaren stopped six laps before the end, the safety car came out and the Tifosi got hope: Could Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc still snatch victory from the leading Max Verstappen after the race had been released?
Both drivers weaved behind the safety car with fresh tires, it would have been the last straw for those who support Ferrari, because previously championship leader Verstappen had been uncatchable.
But instead of racing, there were whistles from the grandstands and disillusionment: the marshals couldn't get the McLaren to move, the towing service came late, a mixture of crane and tractor - but time had run out.
The result:
Verstappen continues to drive towards his title defense in the Red Bull, behind Leclerc George Russell in the Mercedes completed the podium.
Read the race report here.
The spectacle begins quietly:
the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, the “Temple of Speed”, is celebrating its 100th anniversary, Ferrari is celebrating its 75th this year, you are driving in a special red and yellow livery for the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic the grandstands were full again, and star tenor Andrea Bocelli sang the Italian anthem.
The Sunday of the race was supposed to be a celebration for the Tifosi, but initially it was very quiet.
Before the start, there was a minute's silence in memory of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Seven out of 10 teams are based in the UK, with many paying tribute to the late Queen with messages on the cars.
The start:
When the engines roared before the traffic lights went out, it was
mixed up the field.
Nine drivers were transferred after qualifying because of engine or transmission changes.
World championship leader Verstappen, for example, started from seventh place, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was 19th. When it started, pole setter Leclerc was able to defend his lead from George Russell in the second Mercedes.
The third, Lando Norris, couldn't get away in the McLaren and was passed through.
Verstappen had already moved up to third place on lap two ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the second McLaren.
Ferrari stops early:
On lap 13, Leclerc was the only driver to use an early virtual safety car phase to pit, but got medium tires instead of the more durable hard tires.
One thing was clear: these would then have to last for a very long time.
On lap 25, Verstappen took the lead.
He rejoined behind Leclerc (+10.3 seconds) and in front of Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari - and thus had the medium tires that were 13 laps fresher than Leclerc.
Ferrari reacted, Leclerc got the faster soft tires on lap 34, but was then around 20 seconds behind Verstappen (with 20 laps to be driven).
It quickly became clear that he could not catch up.
During the safety car shortly before the end, all the drivers at the front fitted themselves with fresh tires, but the final sprint fizzled out.
Criticism of the race director:
Leclerc was annoyed by a "frustrating end" and the audience was also angry.
But the World Automobile Association defended the decision.
The stewards were unable to bring the McLaren from the edge of the track to a neutral zone, a Fia spokesman said.
Safety is the top priority.
The situation was also not sufficient for red flags.
This would have meant the race had to be canceled and restarted.
Verstappen was the same anyway.
In the event of a restart, he "wouldn't have worried," he said.
Cappuccino put away, team bosses ecstatic:
Nick de Vries, reserve driver for Mercedes and his customer teams, had actually just had a cappuccino and was “chilling” when the call came.
Alexander Albon would miss the Italian Grand Prix due to an appendectomy.
A little later, the 27-year-old Dutchman sat in the Williams and drove his first Formula 1 race - with success.
He started eighth because of the many grid penalties, and in ninth place he immediately scored World Championship points after a flawless performance.
Bad luck for Latifi and Schumacher:
Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher will also have followed de Vries' successful debut.
The former will have to put up with uncomfortable questions.
Latifi is fighting for his Williams cockpit, but only finished the race in Monza in 15th place. De Vries threw his application folder at the top of the pile.
Mick Schumacher is also still without a team for the coming year and is currently driving for his future.
On Sunday, after a series of breakdowns on his Haas and a grid penalty, he was again not able to score points (12th place).
After all, he was praised by Williams team boss Jost Capito over the weekend.
Further, further and further:
Fernando Alonso equaled Kimi Raikkonen's record and contested his 349th Formula 1 race.
But it's far from over.
The 41-year-old Alpine driver, world champion in 2005 and 2006, will switch to Aston Martin after this season and will be aiming for his 400th start.
In Monza, the Spaniard retired prematurely with technical problems.
And now?:
In the overall standings after the European final, Verstappen is 116 points ahead of his closest rival, Leclerc, and there are still six race weekends to come this year.
The 24-year-old Red Bull star theoretically has a chance of winning the second and early title at the upcoming race in Singapore at the beginning of October.