Max Verstappen is heading to the Italian Grand Prix with his once unbeatable aura fading and his chances of winning a fourth straight world championship looking less certain. The Dutch driver has not won a race since June, putting a halt to Red Bull’s dominance in Formula One. Verstappen’s recent performances, including finishing behind Lando Norris at his home GP, have highlighted the issues with his car and led to concerns about his title charge. Despite this, Verstappen still holds a 70-point lead in the driver’s championship and is the favorite to win.
McLaren’s improved car poses a challenge for Verstappen at the upcoming race in Monza, where the Dutch driver has previously dominated. The team’s driver Lando Norris, who is Verstappen’s closest challenger in the championship, has called the idea of beating him to the title “stupid.” Verstappen, while no longer blowing away the competition, is focused on driving with the championship in mind and securing crucial points. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner emphasized the importance of scoring points if a win is not possible.
The constructors’ championship is also tight due to struggles from Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, who is far behind in points. McLaren is closely trailing Red Bull, and Ferrari is also in contention for the title. Ferrari, with the support of their fans, are aiming to break their Monza disappointments and challenge for their first constructor’s title since 2008. Former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso believes that Ferrari will be the car to beat at Monza and the following Azerbaijan GP, with tight competition expected on the podium.
Monza debutantes, like Franco Colapinto, aim to make a mark in the race. Colapinto, of Italian heritage, will become the first Argentine F1 driver in 23 years. Racing for Williams, he will strive to improve the team’s current low points tally in the constructor’s championship. The Italian Grand Prix promises exciting racing as teams compete for crucial points and positions in the championship standings. Race fans are eager to see if Max Verstappen can maintain his lead in the driver’s championship or if his rivals will close the gap in the upcoming races.
