Postcards from… Monza

If there's one place where you can viscerally feel what passion for Formula 1 really means, it's Monza. In recent years, the dominant colour of the sport has been orange: thanks to the tireless travelling army of Max Verstappen fans, but in Monza the only shade that counts is Ferrari red. The podium ceremony is one of the most spectacular in the world, unequalled by any other venue. The emotions of being up there, floating on a sea of admiration, are hard to describe – especially if you happen to be dressed in red at the time...

Carlos Sainz is all too aware of it. Thanks to his second place in 2020, the Spaniard had already stood on the Monza podium before, but unfortunately the public wasn't there that year, kept away by anti-Covid measures. It was also a very different experience as Carlos was wearing the papaya of McLaren. This year's third place was something else, both because it was the first podium of the season for the Spanish driver, and also because it came at the end of a weekend in which he truly gave every ounce of energy: every drop of sweat and determination from start to finish. On Saturday Carlos managed to take a fantastic pole position, beating Max Verstappen by just 13 thousandths of a second and teammate Charles Leclerc by 67 thousandths. Then on Sunday, Sainz battled hard for practically all 51 laps of the race, against increasingly threatening opponents in his mirrors. He couldn't quite hold off Verstappen and then Perez though, simply because this year Ferrari doesn't have the pace to fight for victory against Red Bull, as Carlos put it himself.

However, Carlos managed to prevail during his final scrap of the weekend against Leclerc: despite the fact that the Spaniard's tyres were on the limit. After all, you would give almost anything just to see the view from that famous Monza podium – which Sainz was able to visit for the first time wearing the same colours as the thousands of fans applauding him.

Even Verstappen will have felt a thrill on the Monza podium, because the boy – let's not forget that he has yet to turn 26 - is not quite as emotionless as he sometimes likes to make out. Especially as his 10^th consecutive victory, an absolute record after he previously equalled Sebastian Vettel's benchmark at Zandvoort the weekend before, meant so much to him. Verstappen had to get his elbows out during the duel with Sainz for the first 15 laps of the race, but then built up a safety margin without getting carried away. For example, he didn't try to take fastest lap in the closing stages, as has been his habit, well aware that just a small mistake on a track that looks easy on paper but is far from that in reality, could have big consequences. The main aim was simply to bring home Typhon: the name of the trophy created by artist Ruth Beraha for the 2023 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix. And on this occasion, the animals came home two by two, with Sergio Perez claiming second as well. As Christian Horner put it: ‘the bulls beat the prancing horses.”

The fight for the world titles ended some time ago: that's if it ever really started at all. But there's still a healthy contest for second place behind Max Verstappen and Red Bull. At Monza, Aston Martin took a notable step back, being overtaken by Ferrari for third place in the constructors' standings and dropping out of the top three for the first time all season. But it's not easy for the British squad, as they only have one driver – the legendary Fernando Alonso – who can always manage to bring home championship points; even in races where his car isn't as competitive as those around him. Monza was a tricky Grand Prix for the green team, but Fernando managed to secure ninth place, allowing him to continue his run of points finishes. Along with Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen, he's the only driver to have scored points in every race this year. As a result, the Spaniard continues to maintain third in the drivers' championship, but his cushion over Hamilton has been eroded to just six points. In front of them, Sergio Perez is running away with a 49-point advantage,  meaning that the Mexican is still set for the consolation prize of championship runner-up.

It's been a while since Alfa Romeo managed to finish in the points: the last time was in Canada, where Valtteri Bottas finished 10th. Since then, there has been a points drought for the team from Hinwil in Switzerland, which is in its transition phase towards becoming the official Audi team, to be completed when the German manufacturer makes its debut in 2026. Today the team is still registered in the championship as Alfa Romeo, to the extent that in Monza it raced with a special livery tricolour inspired by the Italian manufacturer, whose historic headquarters are just a few kilometres from the track. So in what can be defined as the team's home race, Valtteri Bottas was pleased to finish in the top 10, taking home a valuable point that at least brings Alfa closer to Haas: now just one point ahead. But currently beating Ferrari's two customer teams (who are placed eighth and ninth respectively) is Williams. Once more, the British squad impressed at Monza, with a strong seventh place for Alex Albon. Williams now has 21 points under its belt and is aiming for seventh place in the constructors' standings – which will be hard-fought by all three teams between now and the end of the season.