RACE REPORT | F1 Italy 2025

Max Verstappen controlled the Italian Grand Prix from the front to claim victory, finishing ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after a late McLaren strategy call and a slow pit stop.

Only 17 cars lined up at Monza, with Verstappen starting on pole ahead of Norris and Piastri. Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly began from the pit lane after engine changes, while Nico Hülkenberg retired his Sauber on the formation lap.

At the start, Verstappen got away well but Norris challenged immediately. The Red Bull squeezed the McLaren onto the grass, though Norris kept control and fought through the first chicane. Verstappen stayed in front but had cut the corner, so Red Bull instructed him to give the place back.

Norris led at the end of lap one, but only briefly. On lap four Verstappen reclaimed the lead with a clean move at Turn 2 and began pulling away.

Behind them, Charles Leclerc passed Piastri for third, with the Australian complaining that the Ferrari had moved under braking. Piastri regained the place a few laps later. George Russell held fifth with Lewis Hamilton close in sixth, while further back Bortoleto, Alonso, Tsunoda and Antonelli were in the points. Esteban Ocon received a five-second penalty for forcing Stroll off.

By lap 15, Verstappen was four seconds clear of Norris, who was six ahead of Piastri. Antonelli moved past Tsunoda for ninth, while Carlos Sainz went off at the chicane and was noted by stewards for rejoining unsafely.

Pit stops began on lap 20 with Tsunoda. Soon after, Bortoleto and Alonso came in, but Alonso’s race ended on lap 26 with a suspension failure. “Suspension failure, this is unbelievable,” he said as he parked the car. Russell pitted on lap 28, Hamilton a lap later, while both McLarens stayed out longer. Ferrari brought in Leclerc on lap 34, but he rejoined behind Albon and wasn’t happy with the timing.

Verstappen stopped on lap 38 for hards, handing the lead to the McLarens before rejoining in third. He quickly set fastest laps as Norris and Piastri remained out front.

The midfield saw more incidents: Sainz and Bearman spun after contact, with Bearman given a 10-second penalty, while Antonelli touched Albon and picked up a five-second penalty for erratic driving after giving the position back.

McLaren’s race turned complicated on lap 46 when Piastri stopped for softs and rejoined ahead of Norris, whose stop was delayed by a slow tyre change. Verstappen retook the lead, while McLaren instructed Piastri to let Norris through. The Australian questioned it but eventually complied. Norris then edged away, though neither McLaren could catch Verstappen.

The Dutchman took the flag for his third win of the season, 19 seconds ahead of Norris and 21 clear of Piastri. Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, with Russell and Hamilton fifth and sixth. Albon secured seventh for Williams, followed by Bortoleto in eighth. Antonelli was ninth despite his penalty, while Hadjar claimed tenth after starting from the pit lane.

Race Results

1st – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2nd – Lando Norris (McLaren) +19.207
3rd – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +21.351
4th – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +25.624
5th – George Russell (Mercedes) +32.881
6th – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +37.449
7th – Alexander Albon (Williams) +50.537
8th – Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) +58.484
9th – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +59.762
10th – Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +63.891
11th – Carlos Sainz (Williams) +64.469
12th – Oliver Bearman (Haas) +79.288
13th – Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) +80.701
14th – Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +82.351
15th – Esteban Ocon (Haas) +1 lap
16th – Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1 lap
17th – Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +1 lap
18th – Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1 lap
DNF – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
DNF – Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber)