Things we learnt from the Italian Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc drove his coronary heart out at Monza, however Max Verstappen used the superior velocity of his automotive as soon as once more to safe his fifth consecutive victory. Reporting from the Monza F1 paddock, F1Technical’s Balázs Szabó picks out just a few issues we learnt from Round 16 of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Mexican – Sergio Perez set the quickest lap of the Italian Grand Prix which has been the third time this season that the Mexican has achieved this feat. His late cease for Pirelli’s delicate tyres allowed the Red Bull Racing driver to go three tenths of a second faster than Leclerc with Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz setting the third and fourth quickest lap of the race.

Two-horse battle – The Italian Grand Prix noticed Red Bull Racing safe its twelfth victory of the 2022 F1 season with Ferrari being the solely different group to have claimed victories this season. The Scuderia has gained 4 instances courtesy of Leclerc, who has gained three victories whereas Sainz has taken a single victory thus far.

Impressive debut – After Alexander Albon had been recognized with appendicitis, Williams determined to provide its reserve driver Nyck de Vries the probability of creating his F1 debut. The Dutchman certified thirteenth, however moved as much as P8 on account of engine-induced grid drop penalties for rivals.

The 2021 Formula E champion made profit from the retirements of Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso, who have been each set to complete a great distance forward of de Vries, however it was nonetheless an enormous achievement from the Williams reserve driver to complete in the factors on his debut with out finishing a single lap on excessive gas previous to the race. Speaking to de Vries after the race, he was a really completely happy chap, who has seemingly set his sight on a race seat for 2023.

First time – Both Max Verstappen and Red Bull have achieved vital milestones at Monza. For the Anglo-Austro outfit, it was the first podium end in the hybrid period. For the Dutchman, Monza has been a territory to conquest, as he had by no means completed on the podium at the Italian Grand Prix.

Big haul of factors – His debut season at Mercedes is slowly turning into an unimaginable yr for George Russell. Despite Mercedes’ lack of tempo in comparison with Ferrari and Red Bull, the younger Briton has taken 15 top-five finishes of which he has ended up on the podium on seven events. With his final P3 end, he has moved

Upward trajectory – Despite the excessive hopes and immense strain, Charles Leclerc was as soon as once more in a position to maintain his nerves in entrance of the Tifosi, claiming his second consecutive podium end with P2 after a third-place finis hat Zandvoort. The Monegasque began the season on a excessive, taking two victories, two second-place finishes and a sixth place in the first 5 grands prix earlier than ending exterior of the podium in the following 5 races.

The latter was the results of Ferrari’s reliability woes and technique errors that noticed the Monegasque lose 4 potential victories as he was on the right track to take the win in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Baku and Silverstone. In Austria, he bounced again by taking his fifth profession victory in a commanding style regardless of points to his throttle, however it was then adopted by one other collection of unhealthy outcomes, which noticed him end off the podium in the following three races.

Commanding lead – With his newest victory, Verstappen now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 116 factors forward of Leclerc with solely 164 factors to realize contemplating the factors that may be collected by race victories, quickest laps and the sole remaining dash race.

The similar dominance could be related by Red Bull’s place in the Constructors’ Championship with the power drink firm owned group main the method by an attention grabbing 139 factors forward of Ferrari. Mercedes discover themselves an extra 35 factors adrift.

Battles – Various championship battles are shaping up in the midfield with Alpine and McLaren separated by solely 18 factors in P4 and P5 whereas there’s an more and more intense battle for the sixth place in the groups’ standings with Alfa Romeo at present holding a wholesome lead, however it might change rapidly with some chaotic races in the the rest of the season.

The highest prime velocity – The highest prime speen recorded throughout the 53-lap race belongs to Sainz, who achieved a most of 356.4kph, adopted by Ocon and Gasly. Interestingly, second-placed Leclerc completed at the backside of this listing which was right down to the undeniable fact that he was unable to make use of his DRS on the start-finish straight in the race.

Versatile compounds – Pirelli introduced the center of its vary for Monza with the C2 compound that includes as the white-banded onerous tyres, the C3 as the medium tyres and C4 as the purple delicate tyre. Degradation was low, that means that even the delicate compound held on properly. Verstappen complteted the longest stint on the C4 compound with 25 laps. It was this compound on which Perez set the quickest lap of the race with a 1m24.030s

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas prolonged their respective stint on the C3 the longest with each of them notching up a complete of 35 laps. It was Verstappen, who clocked the quickest lap on this compound with a 1m24.754s. On the hardest compound, the C2, Zhou Guanyu, Perez and Pierre Gasly accomplished the longest stint with 35 laps respectively. It was Mercedes racer George Russell, who set the quickest lap on the explicit compound with a 1m25.288s.

Four retirements – The Italian Grand Prix noticed 4 drivers retire from the motion. Aston Martin had a very dismal weekend as they began the final European venue off the tempo earlier than retiring from the race with each vehicles. Sebastian Vettel had an ERS-related challenge earlier than his group mate Lance Stroll was requested to retire automotive as a precaution to avoid wasting engine mileage.

Daniel Ricciardo was on the right track to take some factors due to a powerful kind from the Australian, however he suffered an oil leak which led to his retirement. Fernando Alonso had additionally excessive hopes of a powerful point-scoring end, however he was additionally pressured to retire with a suspected water strain challenge.