Max Verstappen won the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, controlling the final stint after early drama with Norris. Here’s the full report – stint strategies, tyre deltas, pitstop drama, and why McLaren’s call shaped the podium.
Published: 7 September 2025 | Updated: 10 September 2025
Key Points
- Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Podium: Lando Norris (McLaren), Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Key moment: Norris forced Verstappen to give back Lap 1 lead; McLaren’s pit stop and team order swap
- Fastest strategy: Medium–Hard, pit Laps 22–38
- Notable: Hülkenberg DNF (formation lap); Alonso suspension failure; Antonelli penalised, Hadjar P10 from pit lane
2025 Italian GP – Monza: Full Race Results (Top 10)
- Max Verstappen — Red Bull Racing
- 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 (5s penalty applied)
- Isack Hadjar — Racing Bulls
DNF: Alonso (Aston Martin, suspension), Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber, hydraulics, formation lap).
Race Recap
It wasn’t lights to flag. Verstappen had to give the place back at the start, Norris looked sharp, and McLaren thought they had a shot. But once the Red Bull found its rhythm, the outcome was inevitable. Monza belongs to Verstappen once again.
The start
The formation lap barely finished before the drama started. Hülkenberg pulled off with hydraulics. “Are you serious?!” he shouted, race over before it began.
Lights out. Verstappen launched well. Norris went wheel-on-grass, somehow gathered it up, and still tried to hang on. Verstappen cut Turn 1 and was told to hand the lead back. Across the line, he slowed, yielded.
“I always know it’s going to be a good fight with Max, and it was,” Norris said. “I enjoyed it, but we just didn’t have the pace of the Red Bull today.”
Leclerc jumped Piastri at the first chicane. The McLaren came back around the outside at Curva Grande, fight restored. Russell sat close. Hamilton gained ground. Bortoleto clung to sixth.
Early phase
Verstappen settled fast. By Lap 7, Norris was out of DRS. By Lap 13, the gap had ballooned past four seconds.
Piastri took longer. He finally cleared Leclerc into Turn 1. “Not my best opening laps,” he admitted. “Once I got past Charles it was pretty lonely.”
Hamilton kept picking off cars. Turn 1 his weapon again and again. Bortoleto led a train of Alonso, Tsunoda and Antonelli.
Alpine’s race sank early. Gasly started from the pit lane after a fresh power unit. “We stretched the stint and hoped for a Safety Car, but nothing came,” he said. Colapinto crossed 17th. “Not much progress. We’ll regroup for Baku.” Flavio Briatore added: “This track doesn’t suit our car. Focus is already on 2026.”
Verstappen, brick by brick, built the gap.
Mid-race rhythm
Mercedes tried to undercut with Antonelli. Blocked in traffic. Russell stopped early, came back stuck in P12. Leclerc slid into pit entry, grabbed Hards, still clung to track position.
Then Alonso. Lap 26, suspension gave out. “Unbelievable,” he groaned. Points gone.
Moments later, Sainz tangled with Bearman. Both spun. Debris flew. No VSC. They carried on but Bearman picked up ten seconds. Ocon shoved Stroll wide. Five seconds for that. Stroll’s slow stop dumped him out of the top ten.
At the front Verstappen pressed on. “Once I got back in the lead, I focused on my pace,” he said. “Finally the car had balance this weekend.” By Lap 23, he was six seconds clear.
The pit swings
Lap 38. Verstappen in. Hard tyres, clean 2.3s. Out, no drama. Norris briefly led. Hamilton boxed, nowhere near the fight.
McLaren blinked late. Piastri boxed on Lap 46 for softs. Norris a lap later. Disaster. Sticky front-left. 5.9 seconds. The stop dropped him behind his teammate.
Two laps later the call came. Team order. “No doubts,” Norris said. “It’s what we agreed.” Piastri, less happy, still obeyed. “It was fair. Lando had been ahead all race and only lost out through no fault of his own. Protecting the team culture matters.”
👉 I’ve broken down that McLaren call in full here: McLaren’s F1 Monza Call – Fairness or Favouritism.
Pirelli confirmed what everyone saw. “No real graining today,” said Mario Isola. “Drivers pushed 40-plus laps with no drop-off. The tyres were maybe too good.”
Norris at least grabbed fastest lap — 1:20.901, 257.781 km/h. Quickest ever at Monza.
The run-in
Last ten laps. Verstappen gone. Nearly 19 seconds clear by the flag. “Lap one was unlucky, but after that we were flying,” he said. “Medium then Hard, perfect execution.”
Norris got second back. Piastri settled for third. Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Hamilton sixth. Ferrari noisy in the stands, quiet on the podium.
Albon sharp for P7. Bortoleto delivered eighth. Antonelli crossed further up but his five-second penalty for erratic driving dropped him to ninth.
And Hadjar. Started from the pit lane. Finished P10. “To start there and still score feels huge,” he said. Ocon’s late stop cleared the way. Lawson took the sister car home 14th. The team added: “Proof the car has potential when we keep it clean.”
Tyre Strategy
- Verstappen: Medium 38L → Hard 15L
- Norris: Medium 39L → Soft 14L (pit stop delay)
- Piastri: Medium 38L → Soft 15L
- Pit delta: Monza ~23s
- Deg: Soft tyre ~0.08s/lap**
What Decided the Race
- Verstappen’s Lap 1 recovery and relentless pace
- McLaren’s pit stop & team order call
- No Safety Car after Sainz/Bearman**
Key storylines
- Norris clawed three points back from Piastri. On paper, nothing. In the title fight, it feels bigger.
- Fastest race in Formula 1 history. 250.7 km/h on average. Schumacher’s 2003 Monza mark? Gone.
- Red Bull back in stride. Japan, Imola, and now Monza. Three wins for Verstappen, the car finally balanced again.
- McLaren’s drama? One sticky wheel gun, one order call. Kept it calm, but not without tension.
- Ferrari had the noise but not the pace. Leclerc fourth, Hamilton sixth. No podium at home.
- Midfield scattered. Albon sharp. Bortoleto tidy. Antonelli’s penalty costly. Alpine nowhere. Hadjar, from the pit lane, made it stick.
Coffee Corner take
Monza punished hesitation. Verstappen showed none. McLaren’s mess came from the pit lane, not the drivers. Ferrari had the tifosi but not the car. Mercedes teased, never landed. Alpine faded. VCARB stole a point. Hadjar turned a pit lane start into a story.
Next stop
Baku. Tight walls, long straights, Safety Cars almost certain.
It’ll test patience as much as speed.
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