Somehow, for the third time in four races, Max Verstappen won an F1 race after starting outside the top six at the Italian Grand Prix.
Though his performance wasn't quite as ridiculously dominant as it was at Spa or Budapest, there was nonetheless a sense of inevitability about Verstappen's eventual P1.
The Red Bull man started in P7 and had carved his way up to P3 by turn one on the second lap - and up into P2 by lap five. It was a phenomenally quick start, and spectacular new onboard footage from Formula 1 has showed just how rapid Verstappen was off the line.
F1: Max Verstappen a cut above the rest in new Italian GP onboard footage
A year on from his dramatic crash with Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen put things right with a resounding win at Monza on Sunday.
The Dutchman fought his way from P7 and, after a late safety car, held off the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and Mercedes of George Russell to win his fifth race in a row - and his 11th of the season.
His rapid getaway saw him overtake four cars on the opening lap, and F1 have released the amazing footage of his start.
It doesn't really matter where Max starts! 😃#ItalianGP @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/Z3TPusvPUa
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2022
The slow-starting Lando Norris causes Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso to take evasive action. Verstappen's quick reactions allow him past Norris, and he passes Alonso by the time the cars reach turn one.
After Gasly squeezes Verstappen's Red Bull out at turn two, the two squabble back-and-forth until they reach the back straight, where Verstappen seems to simply glide by into the Ascari chicane.
Finally, as the lap comes to a close, he gets a monster exit from the legendary Parabolica corner, and has his overtake on Daniel Ricciardo for third place completed before the cars are even halfway down the pit straight.
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Just three laps later, Max Verstappen would be up into second place after overtaking the Mercedes of George Russell, and was into the lead by lap 12 after Charles Leclerc pitted under the virtual safety car.
Mighty Max 💪
Verstappen wasted no time in going from P7 to P2 after lights out at Monza 🇮🇹#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/pfmNs0IpBj— Formula 1 (@F1) September 11, 2022
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Verstappen's car looks like it is on rails in the above footage from Formula 1, and the opening lap clip is the perfect representation of just how easily the Dutchman is getting the better of his competitors this season.
His Red Bull car is, of course, a mega piece of machinery, but Verstappen is wringing far more out of it than his immensely talented teammate Sergio Perez - proving just how superior the 2021 champion is to the rest of the field.
Five in a row for @Max33Verstappen 🤯
How many more wins for the Dutchman before the end of 2022?#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/OZrycymiau— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2022
Verstappen's 11th win of 2022 puts him in sight of the all-time record for wins in a single season (13, shared by Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher). He is also now within range of Vettel's record for most consecutive wins (nine from 2013).
The way Max Verstappen is driving that monster Red Bull car, you wouldn't put it past him.
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