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Verstappen’s second world championship title is essentially assured at this point and he could even claim it in Singapore if he wins and rivals Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez finish far enough down the order. A more realistic scenario would have him claim the title a week later at Suzuka.
This would be fitting as the track is owned by Honda, the original manufacturer of the power unit in the back of Verstappen’s car which is now branded by Red Bull Powertrains and run with the assistance of Honda Racing Corporation. Honda announced in October 2020 it would abandon its Formula 1 programme at the end of 2021, but since confirming it would pull the plug its hardware has become the power unit to beat.
The Japanese engines have won more than half the races since their makers announced they were done with F1 in the run-up to the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix. Even if they fail to win the next three races, Honda will still have won half the grands prix since their exit was confirmed.
Verstappen’s Italian Grand Prix success was his 31st career win, putting him level with Nigel Mansell in seventh place on the all-time F1 race winners’ list. It was also his fifth win in a row, which puts him in rare company, as fewer than 10 drivers have managed this. The others to do so are Hamilton, Mansell, Jim Clark and Jack Brabham – all of which made it no further than five – plus Schumacher, Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Alberto Ascari, who managed even longer streaks.Continuing another strong weekend for Red Bull, Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez took the fastest lap, the ninth time he has done so, matching Denny Hulme, Ronnie Peterson and Jacques Villeneuve.
Ferrari at least took pole position for their home race. Charles Leclerc repeated his 2019 Monza pole, though not the win. His 17th pole position puts him level with Verstappen – again – and Jackie Stewart.
It was a double Dutch points haul as Nyck de Vries shone on his short-notice debut for Williams, taking ninth place. That equalled the team’s best result of the season, matching the result scored by the driver he replaced, Alex Albon, in Miami. It didn’t reflect well on the other Williams driver, Nicholas Latifi, who remains the only driver to have entered every race this year without scoring a point.
For only the second time this year, Alpine failed to score. Esteban Ocon finished 11th, and Fernando Alonso retired. The two-times champion had made his 349th start, which means he sits equal with Kimi Raikkonen as having the all-time record for most grands prix contested.
One point for Zhou Guanyu meant Alfa Romeo added to their score for the first time in seven races. But that is the only point a Ferrari customer team has scored over the last five rounds.
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Have you spotted any other interesting stats and facts from the Italian Grand Prix? Share them in the comments.
2022 Italian Grand Prix
- Helmet rows, hot mics and more forgotten motorsport stories from 2022
- McLaren ‘surprised two teams found more performance than everyone else’ in 2022
- Alpine confident for Singapore and Suzuka races after “massive” floor upgrade
- Red Bull’s RB18 suits Verstappen more than Perez now – but that’s not by design
- “We’ll have four racing laps’: How F1’s Safety Car confusion unfolded at Monza
Jere (@jerejj)
14th September 2022, 7:32
The first race to end under SC neutralization since the 2020 Bahrain GP.
The first time since 1991 that a practice session didn’t feature a single German driver.
FP3 marked the first time since 2006 that two Dutch drivers drove simultaneously in an official race weekend session.
Leclerc became the first Ferrari driver to achieve eight pole positions since Schumi in 2004.
The first time this season with Mclaren starting a race within the first three rows.
De Vries became only the third driver to score points on debut in a Williams after J. Villeneuve & N. Rosberg, who both coincidently went on to win one WDC each, so perhaps an omen for the future.
Perez’s ninth consecutive top-10 finish in Monza & he’s finished in points-paying positions in every Monza race he’s driven except for 2011 (DNF) & ’13 (P12).
Lastly, don’t forget Seb also won 13 races in 2013, so a shared record.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th September 2022, 7:33
I meant eight pole positions ‘in a season’ since 2004. I forgot to alter the wording.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th September 2022, 7:42
I also forgot to add the Monza curse reference.
LEC DNF’d the season after his win, & the same with GAS & RIC, following their respective wins.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th September 2022, 8:41
Of course, I made a tiny error after all that I just realized:
Spanish GP FP1 was the first official session with two Dutch drivers since 2006, so I should’ve worded the first time in a race, racing conditions, or competitive session, to be more precise.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
14th September 2022, 7:59
The first time since 1991 that a practice session didn’t feature a single German driver.
@jerejj You’re incredibly good at this. I would never in a million years have spotted that. *assuming you’re correct, which i’m sure you are.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th September 2022, 8:36
@bernasaurus, I merely heard that on practice day. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known any more than before.
Rascasse
14th September 2022, 8:05
Great job compiling all of that!
Señor Sjon
14th September 2022, 8:38
– first time two Dutch drivers score points in the same race.
– third time in a row Verstappen wins from Leclerc pole. (Italy, France, Baku) and fifth time this season (Spain, Miami). Verstappen has ‘stolen’ as much victories as Leclerc has races won in his F1 career.
– Hamilton had 10 winless races from China 19-10-2008 till Hungary 26-07-2009 (280 days) and USA 18-11-2012 till Hungary 28-07-2013 (252 days). Now it is ongoing with Saudi 05-12-2021 – present (283 days/17 races).
SteveP
14th September 2022, 18:12
I could have sworn that Verstappen was born in Belgium. Oh, well…
José Lopes da Silva
14th September 2022, 22:39
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Austria.
Tommy Scragend
14th September 2022, 23:34
Being born in a stable does not make one a horse.
Jochen Rindt was born in Germany and in fact never held Austrian citizenship, but competed under an Austrian racing licence and so in motor racing terms is considered Austrian.
Mario Andretti was born in (what was then) Italy, but competed as an American.
Why do people keep using “he was born in Belgium” as some kind of put down against Verstappen?
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
14th September 2022, 20:48
Nice catch on Seb’s shared record!
Tommy Scragend
14th September 2022, 23:37
Although the article says that “he will equal Michael Schumacher’s benchmark achievement of racking up those 13 wins in just 18 starts”.
Vettel’s 13 wins took him more than 18 starts. So the article is correct. It isn’t saying that Schumacher holds the record of 13 wins in a season outright.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
15th September 2022, 4:25
Tommy, you are completely right, and I stand corrected.
Andy (@andycz)
14th September 2022, 7:35
Was there any GP back in history where two Dutch drivers scored points?
Miguel Bento (@miguelbento)
14th September 2022, 8:40
Hi @andycz,
No there wasn’t, this was the first time two Dutch drivers scored points at the same race!
pluisje (@pluisje)
14th September 2022, 7:52
Verstappen has won this year after starting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 10th & 14th. That is victories from 7 different starting positions in one season, is that a record as well?
Miguel Bento (@miguelbento)
14th September 2022, 9:07
@pluisje, it is indeed!
The previous record was jointly held by Kimi Räikkönnen, Alain Prost and Alan Jones, who all won in a season after starting from 5 different grid positions:
Kimi (2005) – 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and 17th
Prost (1990) – 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 13th
Jones (1980) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
14th September 2022, 7:55
I hate nitpicking – but the caption under Schumacher says 2005, when Alonso was champion. Not 2004 when he did the 13 race wins. I’m only saying this because it’s a facts article.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2022, 9:30
@bernasaurus Fixed it, thanks!
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
14th September 2022, 9:52
@keithcollantine Sorry Keith, I hate to that guy who points out the smallest of things.
tielemst
14th September 2022, 15:58
You mean to BE that guy. I’ll get me coat…
Mark (@blueruck)
14th September 2022, 17:19
ROFL – well played
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
14th September 2022, 20:52
@bernasaurus Think of it as saving someone else from having to be That Guy. You know your stuff, and this is the place to show it.
Jelle van der Meer (@)
14th September 2022, 10:01
Feel weird that it is more likely (3 wins in 6 races vs 6 podiums in 6 races) Max will beat the # of wins in a season record than that he will beat his own podiums in a season record (2021 18 podiums in 22 races) despite having already 1 more podium YTD.
Podiums after 16 races:
2021: 12 podiums (7x 1st, 5x 2nd)
2022: 13 podiums (11x 1st, 1x 2nd and 1x 3rd)
Optimaximal (@optimaximal)
14th September 2022, 11:31
People need to stop calling it an ‘exit’ and start calling it out for what it is… ‘subterfuge’ or ‘lies’…
Red Bull forced the FIA’s hand on freezing the spec of the hybrid engines under the pretence that they couldn’t maintain engines without OEM support. The FIA has been incredibly weak on this subject.
André
14th September 2022, 12:47
Redbull’s success today has been achieved on the back of off-track politics, since a few years ago, always trying to find competitive advantage by playing with technical regulations. They’ve been pursuing ways to “level the playing field” ever since the hybrid era started, often at the expense of Mercedes, who have managed to sustain many years of success despite the many curve balls thrown at them. The cherry on Redbull’s cake was of course Abu Dhabi 2021, putting pressure on Masi to restart the race prematurely. While I admire Redbull’s hard fight, I’ve lost respect for both Horner and Marko because of their double standards.
Itsmeagain (@)
14th September 2022, 18:28
@andre if you had replaced redbull by mercedes I would have understand your comment. The biggest off-track politic driven team must by MB with Toto. For example the current ‘porpoising’ rulechanges under the name of ‘safety’ is simply hilarious. If safety was really an issue for them, than change the car. And their list of off-track influencing and framing their competitors is endlessly
Itsmeagain (@)
14th September 2022, 18:32
…. And of course we do not forget the midseason rulechanges Toto has lobbied for the last years. Of course RB isn’t sitting still either but their wishes came at the earliest a season later (DAS)
André
14th September 2022, 20:41
One doesn’t need to be a historian to remember:
– clampdown on FRIC suspension in 2014
– clampdown on oil burning
– clampdown on party mode
– chassis/aero changes from 2017
– front wing change from 2019
– clampdown on DAS in 2020
– changes to the floor and rear brake ducts from 2021
– chassis/aero changes from 2022 which prevents the outwash effect that Mercedes (then Brawn) pioneered in 2009 and refined since.
None of these changes had anything to do with safety. They were about rivals complaining, directly or indirectly, about their inability to beat Mercedes, hiding behind the issue of cost or raceability. Throughout these years Redbull was always the loudest voice lobbying for changes that would help bring them back into the game.
jff
14th September 2022, 13:13
I can understand that you still have some unresolved issues, but Honda’s exit was exactly that, a decision by Honda, and Honda alone, to exit F1 as PU supplier.
Sham (@sham)
14th September 2022, 13:22
And to remain as a PU supplier. Red Bull don’t make the engines – just put a sticker on them.
AlanD
14th September 2022, 12:53
Honda seem to be cursed. They ran their own team with lacklustre results, and the year they exit and sell the team to Brawn for a dollar, it wins both championships, and the following year becomes Mercedes. Now they’ve spent years building an F1 engine with poor results, and they year they decide to exit, Red Bull shows it is the engine to beat.
Johns
15th September 2022, 6:16
After Honda announced their leaving, I think Red Bull convinced them to do one more engine upgrade before RB took over the program. This last upgrade was the ticket. So the article really is playing loosey goosey with the facts.
Mark (@blueruck)
14th September 2022, 17:22
I bet there are a few people at Honda circulating this article saying “See, we were right” :)
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
14th September 2022, 20:55
Is it really too late for Honda to change their mind and maintain a presence in F!? Seriously, I expect they will be back within a decade anyway, so why not?
José Lopes da Silva
14th September 2022, 22:42
Likely it was the first time two Dutch drivers started in the top-ten (in the same race).
paulgilb (@paulgilb)
14th September 2022, 22:48
First time Stroll has been knocked out in Q1 in Monza.
Verstappen’s first Monza podium – Mugello is the only track where he has raced but not finished on the podium.
Norris has finished 7th in 5 of the last 6 races.
The only 3 occasions in 2022 where Latifi has started in the top 17, he has started either 10th or 11th.
Ricciardo’s first DNF since Saudi Arabia and Stroll’s first non-classification since Sao Paulo 2021. Verstappen now has the longest uninterrupted streak for both actual and classified finishes with 13 (last DNF was Australia).
Thanks to statsf1 and the official F1 site for some of these.
Diego
15th September 2022, 0:33
Has anyone ever scored points in their first race and the race was not The first of the season?
Moi
15th September 2022, 20:32
Yes, Vettel for one (US gp)
paulgilb (@paulgilb)
15th September 2022, 22:48
Stoffel Vandoorne in Bahrain 2016 (subbing for Alonso).
Brian (@bealzbob)
16th September 2022, 12:46
Brawn won in a Honda when they left too. Maybe Honda just need to be in a perpetual state of leaving F1 and they’ll be golden.