Verstappen victorious in Italian Grand Prix, his 5th win in row

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen won Sunday's Italian Grand Prix and took his fifth straight win this season in Formula 1.

Verstappen was victorious in the Round 16 held in Italy's Monza, completing the 53-lap race in an hour, 20 minutes and 27.511 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Monegasque racer Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc was 2.446 seconds behind Verstappen to be in the second spot at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Mercedes' British driver George Russell was third in this race.

Verstappen bagged 11 wins this season, and took his fifth straight win.

Before his success in Italy, the Dutchman won Grands Prix in France, Hungary, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

This season Verstappen is leading the driver standings with 335 points. The gap between him and his nearest opponent Leclerc is now 116 points.

Red Bull Racing team is on top of the 2022 Constructor Standings with 545 points.

Second-place Ferrari have 406 points.

The next race, Round 17, will be held in Singapore on Oct. 2.

The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship will end after Round 22 which will be run in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20.