For the fifth race in a row, Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominated the field. It was a different atmosphere for the Belgian-Dutch driver entering Scuderia’s territory. After controversial calls by the FIA, the defending champion fended off threats and got a clear path to P1. Meanwhile, the rest of the field presented interesting race narratives. That said, Nitrobetting covers the top 2022 Italian Grand Prix storylines below.

Key Takeaways from the 2022 Italian Grand Prix

Grazie Monza ????????❤️#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/RDnL6p0bTp

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2022

Max Verstappen comes within reach of 2022 championship

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is on course to break F1’s single-season victory record. He is two races away from matching Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. This should be a walk in the park for a dominant driver and car with six races left on the calendar.

Monza affirmed Red Bull with the track proving to be an effective hunting ground for the constructor. The RB18 worked well with the long straights of the track given its slippery and efficient aero package, partnered with the ever-reliable Honda engine.

Although the Italian Grand Prix results were unpopular for many fans and bettors, the 24-year-old heads to Singapore with a chance to clinch the title. Many factors can still affect the numbers, and it would require Charles Leclerc to finish eighth or worse.”

Disappointment for the home team

Ferrari continues to get flak because of its strategy calls and declining results so far this season. The team’s decision to bring Leclerc in when the virtual safety car called following Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel suffering mechanical problems on his car. Essentially, Red Bull was ready to take advantage of the situation if Leclerc stayed out. And given how well the squad has been performing when it comes to making decisions under pressure, there’s no higher praise for Ferrari here.

Where the home team fell short was in pacing. The virtual safety car ended when Leclerc was still in the pits, so he hardly benefited from the scenario. On top of that, the following race interruption didn’t work out in his favor when Daniel Riccardio sustained engine problems on his MCL36. Ultimately, both safety cars hurt Ferrari’s best chance of winning. Red Bull remained focused and made the right decisions, which also reinforced the fact that they didn’t have enough pace to keep up with the season leader.

Safety car unfolding reminiscent of Abu Dhabi

There’s only one time in the history of Formula 1 where they bent the rules, and that was 2022’s final race in Abu Dhabi. This time, Mercedes was not at the receiving end of the call. The FIA followed all safety car rules to the tee. It took a while before they sent out the safety car and time ran out to allow a restart following the rules that were overlooked in Abu Dhabi.

The bare minimum is expected from the governing body that features plenty of officials. This scenario only raises more questions regarding last year’s conclusion and a scar that the sport will continue to carry.

Bonus: Nyck de Vries shines in debut race

Yes, his chance to stay in the points was amplified by multiple grid penalties for others, moving from P13 to P8 on Sunday. But, the Williams substitute driver to Alex Albon, Nyck de Vries, impressed many as he secured the Driver of the Day award in Monza. His single-seater career already took off before he scored his first two points in Formula 1 as a last-minute replacement for the British-Thai driver. The 2020-21 Formula E World Champion was the talk of the town after impressing the grid with a P9 finish in a mediocre FW44.

Since Latifi’s F1 future remains cloudy and Williams not having to hire a driver with Dorilton Capital’s investment, de Vries gets a shot at a seat next season following a solid drive at the Temple of Speed.

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