F1 Italian Grand Prix LIVE: Race updates and times at Monza

1) Max Verstappen – 339 points

2) Sergio Perez – 201 points

3) Fernando Alonso – 168 points

4) Lewis Hamilton – 156 points

5) Carlos Sainz – 102 points

6) Charles Leclerc – 99 points

7) George Russell – 99 points

8) Lando Norris – 75 points

9) Lance Stroll – 47 points

10) Pierre Gasly – 37 points

11) Esteban Ocon – 36 points

12) Oscar Piastri – 34 points

13) Alex Albon – 15 points

14) Nico Hulkenberg – 9 points

15) Valtteri Bottas – 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu – 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda – 3 points

18) Kevin Magnussen – 2 points

19) Logan Sargeant – 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries – 0 points

21) Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points

22) Liam Lawson – 0 points

Comment by Kieran Jackson

It lingered on, but the deal had been all but sealed for months. Lewis Hamilton was always extending his stay at Mercedes – where he has claimed six of his seven world titles – and George Russell has joined him in parallel. Particulars of salary and contract length, with Hamilton reportedly receiving a £10m increase to £50m a year, show the gargantuan regard in which he is still held. No barren year or two is going to change that.

But Hamilton’s contract announcement came with a message. A series of them, in fact. A press release hammered home the same beat. “We have never been hungrier to win”; “we continue to chase our dreams”; “unfinished business.” Words with substance behind them not just for the fans, but for the Mercedes engineers and mechanics at Brackley and Brixworth.

Frankly, it may as well have read: “Give me the car to win – and I’ll make it happen.”

But it was a sharp prod in the direction of Max Verstappen, his 2021 nemesis and current runaway leader, which really rippled the currents ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Verstappen is chasing a record-breaking 10th win on the spin.

Max Verstappen has hit back at criticism of his dominance and set the target of remaining unbeaten for the final nine races of the season.

The all-conquering Dutchman will become the first driver in history to win 10 consecutive races if he takes the chequered flag at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen has been in imperious form this year, winning 11 of the 13 rounds staged as he closes in on a hat-trick of World Championships.

“It’s a good step. The most important will be tomorrow. We did pretty well.

On the race: “Let’s see after lap one where we are and what we can do.”

“It’s a good achievement. We have to keep in mind to keep calm, the most important part of the weekend will be Sunday. We need to have in mind our result on Sunday, not Saturday.”

The Spaniard outgunned Red Bull’s Verstappen to the delight of the Ferrari faithful with Charles Leclerc third in the other scarlet car.

George Russell finished fourth with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton only eighth on an underwhelming afternoon for the seven-time world champion.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza!

Carlos Sainz starts on pole for Ferrari with championship leader Max Verstappen – eyeing 10 wins in a row – second on the grid. Charles Leclerc is third, with George Russell in fourth.

Lights out is at 2pm (BST) – stay right here for all the build-up and news!