Max Verstappen overcame an early challenge from Ferrari to win the Italian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman had to be patient in the opening stint as Carlos Sainz held the lead from pole, but would eventually capitalise when his moment came to take the lead and not look back.
His victory saw Verstappen become the first driver in Formula 1 history to win 10 consecutive wins, surpassing Sebastian Vettel's previous record.
Sergio Perez would pass both Ferraris to make it a Red Bull one-two in second as Sainz rounded out the podium in third.
Race Review
Drama on the formation lap as Yuki Tsunoda pulled off with an engine issue causing a delayed start.
When the lights went out, Sainz held the lead ahead of Verstappen into the first chicane with Leclerc keeping George Russell at bay in third.
The two McLarens each gained a place at the expense of Albon and Hamilton, but the Williams would re-pass Piastri on Lap 2 to sit P6.
Verstappen began to apply pressure on Sainz after DRS was enabled but the Spaniard strongly repelled a first attempted move at the Rettifilo.
The small battle allowed Leclerc back within striking distance of the Red Bull in third while Sergio Perez began attacking Russell for fourth.
After lots of defensive moves, a mistake from Sainz at the Rettifilo allowed Max the chance to pounce through Curva Grande before completing the move into the Roggia chicane.
LAP 15/51
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
Sainz's defense finally cracks as he locks up a Turn 1 😱
Verstappen and Sainz run millimetres apart through Curva Grande, and Verstappen takes the lead!#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/X9YZAYoKHM
Once in the lead, Verstappen began to pull away as Ferrari opted not to pit Sainz, who was holding up Leclerc in third.
Carlos would stop for the hard tyres but waited too long to try an undercut as Red Bull pitted Max and continued ahead.
Instead, it was Perez gaining on the two Ferraris ahead with Leclerc frustrated behind his teammate.
Hamilton would briefly inherit the lead after starting on hard tyres but Max soon swept past the Mercedes on his fresher rubber.
Further back, the two McLarens made contact at the Rettifilo as Lando Norris jumped teammate Oscar Piastri in the pit stop phase.
A closer look at the crunch between them
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
But the stewards quickly decide no further action 👍#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/imgbBsdViw
Hamilton would bail on the alternate strategy on Lap 28, switching to the medium compound for the run to the finish.
As Verstappen stretched his lead, the fight was on behind as Perez got ahead of Leclerc into third on the main straight.
Albon used Williams' straight-line speed to keep Norris and Piastri behind with Hamilton closing up on his newer mediums.
The Briton went to pass the Australian into the Roggia chicane but would make contact, damaging the front wing of the McLaren.
Hamilton was later given a five-second penalty for causing the collision.
LAP 41/51
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
Hamilton hunts down Piastri for eighth but they make contact!
Hamilton continues in P8, but Piastri pits with damage#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8184j4Z5BJ
Perez upped the pressure on Sainz for P2 with Checo forced to jump the first chicane on several occasions as the Spaniard defended hard.
Sergio finally got the move done at the third time of asking to put Red Bull one and two.
Leclerc then passed Sainz into the Rettifilo but went deep allowing Carlos to re-pass on the run to the Roggia chicane.
Behind, Hamilton gained places on Norris and Albon upto sixth before trying to pull out the five-second margin to nullify his penalty.
But it was the Ferrari battle that dominated the final few laps as Leclerc tried everything to pass Sainz.
LAP 49/51
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
Leclerc is champing at the bit to get past Sainz, but he just can't find a way!#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ztftWYJP1H
It would be to no avail, however, as the Spaniard held on to third over the line.
At the front, Verstappen eased to victory ahead of Perez as Red Bull made it 15 wins in a row dating back to Abu Dhabi last year.
Russell had a lonely run to fifth as Hamilton did enough to keep sixth. Albon held off Norris in seventh and eighth with Alonso also just behind in ninth.
Valtteri Bottas completed the top 10 for Alfa Romeo, ahead of Liam Lawson in a strong 11th. Piastri finished 12th after his contact with Hamilton followed by Logan Sargeant in the Williams.
Zhou Guanyu was 14th, Pierre Gasly 15th, Lance Stroll 16th and the two Haas' of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen 17th and 18th.
Esteban Ocon would be the only in-race retirement joining Tsunoda.
