2025 Italian Grand Prix Recap

By Ryan Wu

“Speed, I am speed” — Max Verstappen before this weekend, probably.

In the midst of the most dramatic teammate Championship duel since 2016 between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the reigning World Champion reminded everyone why he has claimed the last four Drivers’ titles.

Verstappen stormed to pole with the fastest lap ever recorded at Monza—aptly nicknamed The Temple of Speed—with both McLaren drivers lining up behind him on the grid.

Before the lights even went out, Nico Hülkenberg’s weekend came to an unfortunate end as a hydraulics issue forced him to retire, denying him another potential points finish after qualifying 12th.

As always, the charge into Monza’s tight first corner delivered drama. Lando Norris clipped the grass on the run into Turn 1 while attempting to hold position, later claiming over the radio that Verstappen had forced him wide. Several cars went off track through the chicane, though luckily no contact was made. On lap 2, Verstappen was instructed to hand the place back to Norris, with Red Bull eager to avoid a penalty.

Just two laps later, Verstappen reclaimed the lead with a decisive move into Turn 1 and never looked back, controlling the race to the chequered flag.

Behind him, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc staged an entertaining battle for third, swapping positions multiple times in one of the highlights of the race.

Beyond a retirement for Fernando Alonso, the race unfolded relatively uneventfully—until a sluggish 5.9-second pit stop for Norris on lap 47 all but confirmed Verstappen’s victory.

McLaren Team Orders and the Idea of ‘Fairness’

A slow pit stop on lap 47, caused by difficulty fitting Lando Norris’s front-left tire, allowed Oscar Piastri to overtake his teammate. Over the radio, Piastri was told he could pit first to cover off the pursuing Charles Leclerc.

However, team orders soon followed, instructing Piastri—who had been about three seconds behind Norris before the stop—to return the position so the pair could resume racing. Neither driver was in contention to challenge Verstappen for the win, but the swap allowed Norris to gain three points on Piastri, narrowing the Championship gap to 31.

McLaren deserves credit for upholding its culture of fairness, aiming to keep the Championship battle both competitive and respectful between teammates. The decision also drew sarcastic remarks from Verstappen, who found humor in the team orders—perhaps understandable given he was 18 seconds clear of his nearest rival and looking for something to occupy himself.

Rookie Report

Gabriel Bortoleto enjoyed a strong weekend, finishing 8th to secure points for Stake and marking his fourth top-10 finish in the last six races. Kimi Antonelli managed a partial rebound after his costly penalty in Zandvoort, returning to the points with a 9th-place finish. Isack Hadjar rounded out the top 10. For Haas and Oliver Bearman, however, it was a tough outing — Bearman received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz, though both drivers were able to continue the race.

Racing Refresh Driver of the Day

Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Final Points Finishing Positions

1st: Max Verstappen

2nd: Lando Norris

3rd: Oscar Piastri

4th: Charles Leclerc

5th: George Russell

6th: Lewis Hamilton

7th: Alex Albon

8th: Gabriel Bortoleto

9th: Kimi Antonelli

10th: Isack Hadjar

Next on the F1 Schedule:

Azerbaijan Grand Prix: September 19th-21st