RACE REPORT | F1 Italy 2023

The Red Bull team scored its fifteenth triumph in a row, a new record. They maintained their unbeaten run this season and achieved their sixth "double" as their teammate Sergio Pérez crossed the line second. Third place went to Carlos Sainz, winner of Saturday's qualifying session, representing the home Ferrari stable.

The race did not start as planned. The drivers completed an unusual two warm-up laps; in the first of which the broken car of AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunda had to be removed. This situation led to the start being delayed by 15 minutes and the race was shortened from the original 53 to 51 laps. After the restart procedure, the race was finally able to start, but the first meters brought no change in the lead order. Verstappen was unable to overtake Sainz, with Ferrari's other driver, Charles Leclerc, holding his position behind them.

The first quarter of the race was marred by Verstappen's unsuccessful overtaking attempts, while Pérez struggled to pass Mercedes' George Russell. When he finally did, it was off the track, and they quickly swapped positions themselves. Then came Verstappen's moment. The Dutchman took advantage of Sainz's faulty braking on lap 15 to take the lead after a thrilling duel, and has maintained his lead ever since.

Pérez was later able to match Russell and began to chase down both Ferrari cars. His attacks began after a tyre change, and although he made contact with Leclerc, he was eventually successful. He soon closed in on Sainz as well and after several attempts, passed him to secure second place. Team-mates in the red cars jostled for third place in front of the enthusiastic home fans throughout the rest of the race, sometimes at the risk of being outclassed, and in the end it was Sainz who took the podium as Ferrari's first representative this year.

Finishing a distant second behind Leclerc were both Mercedes drivers, Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who received five-second penalties for an on-track incident during the race, but these did not alter their final standings.