‘In tune’ Max Verstappen hunting perfect 10 at Monza

MILAN – Max Verstappen is on the cusp of another record as he prepares for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix and another step towards a near-inevitable third consecutive Formula One world title.

The dominant Dutchman is the red-hot favourite to break the record of nine straight race wins he shares with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel after drawing level with the retired German at Zandvoort last weekend.

The 25-year-old delighted an army of home fans at the Dutch Grand Prix with a superb victory in wild conditions which extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 138 points.

Verstappen, with 11 wins and 339 points, looks nailed on to smash his own records for wins and points in a season (15 and 454 respectively), both set last term.

For now, though, he is seeking to again conquer the so-called “Temple of Speed” where he won comfortably last campaign despite starting seventh on the grid due to a power unit penalty.

Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey told Autosport on Wednesday that Verstappen has become “one of the all-time greats” after also finishing second twice in this season’s 13 grands prix and effectively racing his own championship.

“Since he won the championship in 2021, I think that took a lot of pressure off himself and his driving has got a lot better for that,” he said.

“He’s totally in tune. The thing about Max, like all the real greats, is that you have the impression he almost drives the car on automatic, which leaves plenty of processing power to think about everything.”

Red Bull have won every race so far this season, 14 in a row including the 2022 finale in Abu Dhabi, and are again favourites at Monza's fast layout.

No team have ever gone unbeaten through a season of more than 10 races, however.

But the reality is that Red Bull have no real rivals as the nearest outside challenger to Verstappen is veteran Fernando Alonso, who is 171 points off the pace despite having a hugely impressive season at Aston Martin.

Alonso might have no chance of winning his third world title but his performance suggested he might be the best candidate to stop Verstappen from another win.

The 42-year-old sparkled in the Netherlands, snatching second place and his seventh podium of a remarkable campaign.

And he will not have a deluge to deal with in northern Italy, where a brutal late summer heatwave and powerful storms have given way to pleasant temperatures and sunny skies.

The Spaniard set the fastest lap last weekend and told his ambitious team “we will win one race soon, we are getting closer” after crossing 3.7 seconds behind Verstappen.

Alonso’s second place was Aston Martin’s first podium since he finished runner-up at the Canadian Grand Prix in June and team principal Mike Krack is in positive mood heading into Monza.

“After all these podiums in the first half of the season, and then more difficult races, now finally in a very difficult weekend we managed to get another podium, which is great,” he said.

“We really want to try and keep fighting as much as we can in this battle, and see where we end up at the end. Everything points in the right direction.”

Ferrari will be hoping for a better showing in front of their home fans than last weekend’s dismal efforts, when Carlos Sainz crossed in fifth place and Charles Leclerc was forced to retire.

Mercedes will be boosted after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and fellow Briton George Russell both renewed their contracts until 2025 on Thursday.

Monza is the last European race before a swing through Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. AFP, REUTERS