Monza, September 7, 2025 – Max Verstappen showcased his class once again by storming to victory at the 2025 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, leading home McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in what became the fastest race in F1 history.

The Red Bull ace crossed the line in 1h 13m 24s, taking his 66th career win and extending his championship lead with a margin of more than 19 seconds over Norris.

Drama at the Start

Starting from pole, Verstappen initially seized the lead but was forced to hand it back to Norris after running wide in their Turn 1 battle. McLaren’s Australian star Piastri also made an early move past Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari to take P3, while Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton charged through the midfield.

By Lap 4, Verstappen reclaimed the lead with DRS and never looked back, quickly building a gap to the papaya cars.

Pit Stop Twist for McLaren

While Verstappen executed a flawless stop on Lap 38, McLaren opted for a later strategy, gambling on tyre life. A slow front-left tyre change for Norris briefly put him behind Piastri, but the Australian was instructed to yield P2 to his teammate five laps from the finish.

Despite the hiccup, the McLaren pair secured a crucial double podium – Norris second, Piastri third – boosting their Constructors’ Championship challenge.

Ferrari’s Home Race & Points Finishers

Leclerc delighted the Tifosi with a strong P4, keeping Russell’s Mercedes behind. Hamilton, meanwhile, delivered a solid comeback drive to P6 in Ferrari colors.

Elsewhere, Alexander Albon shone for Williams with a P7 finish, Gabriel Bortoleto claimed more points for Sauber in P8, while Kimi Antonelli’s penalty dropped him to ninth. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) rounded out the points after starting from the pit lane.

2025 Italian GP – Top 10 Results

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT – 1:13’24.325
2. Lando Norris – McLaren Mercedes – +19.207s
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren Mercedes – +21.351s
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +25.624s
5. George Russell – Mercedes – +32.881s
6. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +37.449s
7. Alexander Albon – Williams Mercedes – +50.537s
8. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber Ferrari – +58.484s
9. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – +59.762s
10. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls Honda RBPT – +1:03.891

Next Stop: Singapore

With Verstappen extending his lead and McLaren showing race-winning pace, the stage is set for another thrilling battle under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix later this month.