Italian GP. Verstappen hunts on Ferrari land.

Dutchman Max Verstappen, by far the chief of the Components 1 world championship, arrives as the massive favourite this weekend in Monza. He hopes to dominate the native Ferraris of Monegasque Charles Leclerc and Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

Winner of ten of the 15 Grands Prix already run, Verstappen crushes the F1 model 2022. If he can nonetheless be reached mathematically, the video games appear to be made earlier than the brand new recreation on the Monza autodrome for the Italian GP.

Seven races from the tip, and earlier than leaving Europe for Asia, Verstappen (Crimson Bull) and Leclerc (Ferrari), his first pursuer, are separated by 109 factors. The opposite Crimson Bull of Sergio Pérez can also be 109 factors behind the chief… A lead that appears unrecoverable given the dynamics of the forces.

distant reminiscences

Verstappen has simply gained 4 races in a row, chaining demonstrations. On the identical time, Leclerc has solely signed one podium, a third place within the Netherlands final week.

The hopes of the beginning of the season, these of fierce competitors between Crimson Bull and Ferrari, are distant reminiscences. Simply because the reminiscences of the 2021 battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) fade away, which ended on the finish of the final GP.

At this charge, Verstappen will be titled in Asia, from Singapore (October 2) or Japan (October 9), or in the US (October 23) if he faces some resistance.

temple of velocity

As a result of Crimson Bull has given its reigning world champion an virtually unbeatable single-seater when it’s within the palms of a cold-blooded driver, whose vocabulary doesn’t embrace the phrase fault. Like a baby by no means glad, Verstappen is “keen” to compete on the legendary Monza circuit, the place he has by no means gained, which is beginning to be uncommon for the 24-year-old athlete who has gained 30 Grands Prix.

“For those who take a look at the season to this point, we now have been quick in a straight line and I feel it will likely be the identical this weekend (…), we will be aggressive”, introduced the Batavian, conscious that ‘he could have the benefit over the Temple of the velocity of 5.793 km. “There’s a whole lot of historical past right here, it is an unbelievable circuit with a loopy ambiance”, continued Verstappen, who’s nonetheless not one to be impressed by the 315,000 spectators anticipated this weekend (125 ‘000 on Sunday), together with a majority of Scuderia tifosi.

Desires extinguished

In entrance of his followers disadvantaged of the constructor title since 2008 and driver since 2007 (Kimi Raikkonen), Ferrari must keep away from the mechanical issues and strategic errors which have progressively extinguished his goals of crowning this season. Leclerc, nonetheless perfectible earlier than the problem of a world title which he’s measuring for the primary time at 24, will even need to watch out to not exit into the background – as in France – if he desires to relive the “allegria” of his victory right here in 2019.

A hit can be all of the extra lovely as Ferrari celebrates a double anniversary this weekend: the seventy fifth of the creation of the well-known automotive producer, and the one hundredth of the Monza circuit. For the event, the Scuderia sports activities a particular livery, mottled with yellow on the standard purple. The yellow of the well-known prancing horse coat of arms is the colour, together with blue, of town of Modena, the place Enzo Ferrari started his nice journey earlier than transferring to Maranello.

Be careful for Mercedes

To keep away from discomfiture, Ferrari will even need to be careful for Mercedes, in significantly better form than it. The Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have completed on the rostrum 5 instances within the final 4 rounds. Towards a podium for Leclerc and one for Sainz.

Mercedes, which awaits its first victory this season, has its fingers crossed for a brand new shock situation at Monza, just like the fourth power current, Alpine, fashioned by Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso.

In 2020, Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) gained the one Grand Prix of his younger profession there (sick, he shall be absent from the circuit this Thursday for the primary occasions linked to the GP, introduced his staff). In 2021, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) thwarted the forecasts, benefiting from the bewildering accident between Verstappen and Hamilton, the primary’s single-seater actually ending up on that of the second, saved by the halo of his Mercedes.

TTY