Reigning world champion Max Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium with victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, converting pole position into a controlled race win ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, making a statement at Monza’s famous “Temple of Speed”.
The race began with significant drama as Norris, starting P2, challenged Verstappen into Turn 1. The Red Bull driver ran across the chicane to hold the lead before giving the place back at the start of the second lap to avoid a potential penalty. Nevertheless, within a handful of laps, Verstappen retook control and from then on held the pace.
Behind him, the focus remained on the McLarens. After a solid first stint, a slow pit stop for Norris dropped him behind Piastri. However, the McLaren team stepped in, instructing Piastri to let his teammate through, thereby putting Norris back behind Verstappen. The call mirrors a similar scenario from the previous season, albeit with a swifter execution at Monza.
Norris’s second place trimmed Piastri’s championship lead slightly, reducing the margin between the pair to 31 points. The result represented yet another strong double podium, though the debate around team strategy is likely to continue.
Charles Leclerc delivered a standout performance for Ferrari, finishing fourth after a spirited drive in front of the Tifosi. The Monegasque driver pulled off a thrilling pass on Mercedes driver George Russell during the initial stages of the race, diving down the inside at the first chicane with calculated precision. Russell attempted to fight back in his Mercedes later in the race, but Leclerc defended robustly, closing the gap through Curva Grande and Parabolica to maintain the position. Although he couldn’t quite reach the McLarens ahead, his sharp driving drew cheers from the home crowd and ensured Ferrari stayed well within the top five.
George Russell once again impressed in his Mercedes, holding on to fifth place, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli pulled up ninth despite a five-second penalty for erratic driving. Both British drivers added valuable points for the Silver Arrows, with Russell maintaining a strong pace behind Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton also delivered a strong recovery drive after a five-place grid penalty, climbing steadily from tenth to sixth and securing a strong finish for Ferrari.
Further back, Alex Albon finished seventh after a tough qualifying session. He fended off Gabriel Bortoleto’s Kick Sauber as well as Antonelli, who collected points despite the penalty. Isack Hadjar staged an outstanding charge from a pit lane start to finish tenth, ahead of Carlos Sainz’s Williams and Ollie Bearman’s Haas, after the two collided late in the race at the Roggia chicane. Bearman was handed a time penalty for the incident.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda finished in the midfield, while Liam Lawson, driving for AlphaTauri, also brought his car home in a points-chasing position. Alpine endured another subdued weekend, with Esteban Ocon receiving a five-second penalty for forcing Lance Stroll off track and finishing 15th, ahead of teammates Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto. Aston Martin looked competitive in the early stages, but their race unravelled; Stroll fell out of contention, while Fernando Alonso retired with suspension damage. A hydraulics problem struck Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg’s car on the formation lap, preventing him from starting the race.
At the front, Verstappen controlled the second half of the race with trademark efficiency, his pit stop strategy keeping him comfortably ahead of the McLarens. Despite early flashpoints and the McLaren switch behind him, the Dutchman cruised to the flag to secure another victory at Monza, strengthening his push for another Formula 1 World Championship.
Verstappen’s win at Monza marks another step in his defense of the WDC title in the 2025 season. While the Dutchman controlled the race, Norris, the British star, secured an important second place on a weekend where he appeared confident against Red Bull. Piastri, the Australian talent and current points leader, left Italy with a healthy, albeit reduced, championship advantage.
As the title fight develops, McLaren faces the challenge of managing two front-running drivers without allowing internal rivalry to disrupt results. Nevertheless, Red Bull’s return to the top of the podium at Monza suggests Verstappen remains a formidable force.
All eyes are now on the Baku circuit, as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix looms ahead, with potential to stir up the title fight.
