Italian GP Preview | Will Verstappen achieve 10 consecutive F1 wins?

Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix has been on the racing calendar continuously since the start of F1. During the first three seasons, only Italian drivers managed to win. Giuseppe Farina won the first version, and Alberto Ascari was the first driver to cross the finish line in 1951 and 1952.

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher still hold the record number of victories in Monza. Both drivers managed to take the top prize five times in their careers.

Last season, Verstappen won for the first time on the iconic circuit. The Dutchman trumped Charles Leclerc and George Russell - who took the podium as second and third, respectively. Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, did not get further than a disappointing sixth place in the RB18. Nyck de Vries made his debut as a replacement for Alexander Albon and finished ninth on behalf of Williams, which eventually earned him a seat at AlphaTauri for the first half of the season.

Autodromo Nazionale Monza

The circuit in Monza is known for its many straights, allowing the drivers to drive at a very high speed. The circuit is around 5.7 kilometres. Since the Autodromo Nazionale Monza also involves many fast corners, the cars can maintain speed for a long time. Red Bull are very efficient on the straights and have the highest top speed of all ten Formula 1 teams, so the Austrian team seems to have an advantage in advance.

What can we expect?

Thanks to his victory in the Grand Prix of the Netherlands, Verstappen has nine victories in a row, equaling Sebastian Vettel's record. If the Dutchman is the first to cross the line at Monza on Sunday, he will actually break the record. Verstappen will start as the favourite this weekend. Not only is the car and driver in top form, in terms of characteristics, Monza is made for the RB19.

In the Grand Prix of Belgium, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit has similarities with Monza, Verstappen was supreme just before the summer break. At the finish, he had a lead of more than 20 seconds over the rest of the field.

It will undoubtedly be very exciting again behind Verstappen. Which team will finish runner-up in the 14th Grand Prix of the season? In Zandvoort, there Fernando Alonso returned to the podium, after Aston Martin had a hard time in the final weeks before the summer break. Mercedes were nowhere but demonstrated good pace, McLaren disappointed in the race, and Ferrari couldn't really challenge. But seven days later, the world can look very different again. Predictions are difficult to make.

Weather forecast Italian GP

It seems to stay dry over the first two days at Monza. With temperatures of about 26 degrees and sunshine, it is fantastic weather for all visitors who travel to the 'Temple of Speed'. The weather forecast for Sunday is quite different. The sun will no longer come through, and there's a 50 percent chance of precipitation. So we may see the intermediates in action again, just like at Zandvoort. Click here to see the weather forecast, and here for the session times.