Max Verstappen powered to a dominant victory at Monza, securing his third win of the 2025 season and further strengthening his title challenge. The Red Bull driver survived an early scrap with Lando Norris, before controlling the race from the front to finish 19 seconds clear of the McLaren.
DU DU DU DU 📢📢📢
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 7, 2025
You know what to do 👇#F1 || #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/yfla8iWXVx
The Dutchman now adds Italy to his season’s triumphs in Japan and Imola, cementing himself as the driver to beat at the Temple of Speed.
A Chaotic Start
At lights out, Verstappen launched cleanly but was forced to give the lead back to Norris after cutting the opening chicane. Behind them, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri swapped positions twice in a wheel-to-wheel duel, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton gained ground.
By lap four, Verstappen retook the lead with a DRS-assisted move at Turn 1, and from there began to stretch a gap over Norris. Piastri eventually cleared Leclerc, but the McLarens struggled to stay within striking distance.
Strategy Calls and Pit Lane Drama
Most of the field started on mediums, aiming for a one-stop strategy onto hards. Verstappen, with two sets of hards available, was always well-placed to cover off McLaren.
Disaster struck Norris on lap 47: a slow 5.9-second pit stop cost him dearly, allowing Piastri to rejoin ahead. McLaren quickly intervened with team orders, asking Piastri to let Norris back through in the final laps to balance the strategy.
LAP 49/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 7, 2025
Wait! 😮
McLaren have asked Piastri to swap positions with Norris
And the Aussie lets his team mate through 😵
Norris is P2, Piastri P3 #F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/GG9IZg88Za
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s home hopes faded as Leclerc slipped to fourth, unable to match Red Bull or McLaren on outright pace. Russell and Hamilton followed close behind in fifth and sixth for Mercedes.
Midfield Battles and Retirements
Further back, both Aston Martins hit trouble. Fernando Alonso retired with suspension failure, while Lance Stroll endured a messy afternoon before finishing outside the points. Nico Hülkenberg did not even make the start, parking his Kick Sauber on the formation lap.
There was drama too for Williams, with Carlos Sainz and Ollie Bearman colliding, while Alexander Albon salvaged seventh place. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with eighth, Kimi Antonelli claimed ninth for Mercedes, and Isack Hadjar produced a remarkable drive from the pit lane to tenth.
Here's how Sainz and Bearman got themselves in a spin 😵💫#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/TZL3zViEN7
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 7, 2025
Verstappen celebrated with his team beneath Monza’s iconic podium, reflecting on a near-perfect weekend. McLaren will rue what might have been, with Norris and Piastri both denied a real chance to challenge for the win.
Verstappen round the outside 💪
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 7, 2025
Unbelievable battling at the front as the Dutchman retakes the lead! 🍿#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/hREmJQcsy0
Italian Grand Prix – Top 10 Results
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Alexander Albon (Williams)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Kursiv also reports that yesterday, at the qualifying race at Monza, Max Verstappen has set a new lap record for the circuit at 1m18.792s.
