In the eternal debate over the identity of the fastest driver in Formula 1, Max Verstappen has a trump card.

To pinch pole position for the Italian Grand Prix he had set the record for fastest lap in the history of the world championship.

Verstappen lapped Formula 1’s 5.793-kilometre temple of speed in 78.792 seconds.

That’s an average speed of 264.681 kilometres per hour — the fastest lap ever recorded.

In doing so he banished the bad memories of last year, when Red Bull Racing’s decline trajectory steepened significantly.

He also created a twist in the championship battle.

After his engine-related retirement last weekend, Lando Norris said McLaren’s dominance would make it hard for him to make quick inroads on his 34-point title deficit. Getting some other drivers in the mix to put

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