2025 F1 Italian GP race report: Ferrari finishes off the podium at Monza

Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25, race start 2025 F1

Max Verstappen completes Monza masterpiece with Italian GP victory

Amid waves of red-clad fans that flooded Monza, Max Verstappen completed the masterpiece he began yesterday with pole position, claiming victory at the Italian Grand Prix. It was a combination of perfect strategy from Red Bull and exceptional driving from a four-time world champion who, whenever possible, demonstrates why he remains at the top of Formula 1.

A challenging start and a commanding performance

Verstappen faced a tricky start, having to give up a position to Lando Norris after cutting the first chicane. Yet, he quickly showcased his remarkable pace, overtaking the McLaren once more and gradually building a lead that approached 20 seconds by the end of the race. This win was also significant for Red Bull, marking Laurent Mekies’ first victory as team principal following Christian Horner’s departure.

A world champion in action

Verstappen delivered a truly championship-caliber performance, perhaps even more. To dominate McLaren—the reference team of this season—so convincingly, especially as they were forced to manage positions in the closing laps due to a pit stop error with Lando Norris, highlights his exceptional skill.

Norris had entered the pits to switch from Medium to Hard tyres while running second, but lost valuable time due to a sticking left-front wheel. The team then asked Oscar Piastri, who had moved up to second, to let Norris pass. Piastri complied without hesitation, showing both sportsmanship and awareness that he lost only three points in the Drivers’ Championship.

Ferrari struggles and glimpses of hope

Ferrari started off the podium and ultimately finished just outside it. Charles Leclerc fought hard, particularly in the opening laps, to deliver a moment of joy for the tifosi. However, both the McLarens and an extraordinary Verstappen forced him into fourth, finishing just three seconds behind Piastri.

Nevertheless, Ferrari showed encouraging signs as Lewis Hamilton climbed from P10 to sixth. It was not the result alone that impressed, but the pace maintained by the seven-time world champion, which appeared sharper than usual. Between the two Ferraris, George Russell secured a resilient fifth place, though he struggled with a heavier setup and less efficient tyre management compared to those ahead. Andrea Antonelli also faced difficulties, initially sliding off due to rear tyre spin but recovering to seventh before a penalty for pushing Alexander Albon off track dropped him two places.

Strong performances further down the grid

Haas made an impressive recovery with Esteban Ocon at the wheel. Despite a five-second penalty for squeezing Liam Lawson at Roggia, Ocon finished seventh, just ahead of Alexander Albon’s Williams in eighth. Completing the top ten was Gabriel Bortoleto in the sole Kick Sauber on track. Nico Hulkenberg was forced to retire during the formation lap due to a hydraulic failure.

Racing Bulls had a challenging day, with Isack Hadjar finishing 11th and Liam Lawson 15th. Behind Hadjar were Carlos Sainz in the Williams and Oliver Bearman in the Haas, who made contact at Roggia while battling for points. Yuki Tsunoda endured another tough race, finishing 14th in the same Red Bull chassis that Verstappen had used to win.

Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly completed the standings. Aston Martin suffered setbacks as Fernando Alonso retired due to a suspension failure—a rare occurrence in modern F1. His fiery team radio was another reminder of a Silverstone squad eagerly awaiting 2026.