Max Verstappen reminded the Formula 1 world why he’s still the man to beat, cruising to victory at the Italian Grand Prix with a near-perfect drive. The Red Bull star, starting from pole, shook off an early challenge from Lando Norris and went on to win by 19 seconds, setting a new benchmark for the fastest race ever at Monza.
It was Verstappen’s third win of the 2025 season and his most dominant yet per Formula 1. After a rocky 2024 at Monza, this triumph felt like a return to form for both him and Red Bull.
His pole lap of 1:18.792 highlighted his one-lap pace, and on race day, he combined composure with raw speed.
The opening lap nearly went sideways when Verstappen cut the chicane and was forced to hand the lead back to Norris. But the Dutchman regrouped, and by Lap 4 he swept around the outside of Turn 1 with a decisive move that re-established his control. From there, the outcome was never in doubt.
McLaren Orders Spark Frustration
If Verstappen raced with control, the real drama unfolded in McLaren’s garage. Teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both firmly in the title hunt, were locked in a tense scrap that reignited debates about team orders.
Norris held second for much of the race until a costly 5.9-second pit stop on Lap 46 dropped him behind Piastri, who’d executed a clean stop one lap earlier. Suddenly, McLaren faced a headache: their championship leader was ahead on track, but the team had promised pre-race to favor Norris if strategy or pit issues swung things unfairly.
On Lap 49, Piastri was told to move aside. He did, but not without a pointed radio message, “We said a slow pit stop was part of racing.” The frustration was clear, and while Norris reclaimed second place, the controversy lingers.
The result trims Piastri’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 28 points with eight rounds left. For Norris, it was a lifeline. For Piastri, it was a bitter pill, sparking whispers that McLaren’s internal politics could derail their title ambitions.
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer summed it up, “It’s harsh on Lando because he’s been the lead McLaren all weekend, but these calls always leave scars.”
Ferrari Fades, Mercedes Steady
Ferrari’s home crowd had little to cheer beyond solid points. Charles Leclerc crossed the line fourth, while Mercedes’ George Russell came home fifth, showing a steady but unspectacular pace. Lewis Hamilton, hampered by a grid penalty, salvaged sixth.
The heartbreak belonged to Fernando Alonso, who looked set for a top-five before a suspension failure ended his race. Aston Martin’s veteran slammed his steering wheel as he parked trackside, a cruel end to an otherwise strong weekend.
Verstappen’s dominance at Monza doesn’t just boost his own campaign; it cranks up the pressure on McLaren. With Norris and Piastri both fighting for the crown, every pit call and every radio message now feels magnified.
As the championship heads to the streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen’s resurgence has injected new life into the title fight. McLaren’s biggest threat might not be Red Bull; it might be the storm brewing between their own drivers.
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