F1 Italian GP analysis: Ferrari in the mix for pole at Monza as McLaren and Red Bull raise the stakes. Ferrari shows strong pace at Monza and is firmly in the battle for pole position.

F1 Monza GP: Ferrari right in the fight for pole position

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza has placed Ferrari in the heart of the battle for pole position at the sixteenth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Racing once again on home soil after Imola, the Scuderia Ferrari entered the weekend with a clear objective: to fight at the very top and aim for victory. The challenge is far from easy given the strength of McLaren and the resurgence of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, both of which look far sharper compared to last year.

Ferrari searching for the final step to fight at the top

Friday in Monza proved encouraging for the Maranello team, although there is still some fine-tuning required to extract the maximum performance from the SF-25. The opening free practice session saw a few small adaptation issues, but the baseline setup was broadly correct. The intention was to start with a solid configuration and then build on it progressively through the weekend, taking the right direction with setup development.

The initial balance leaned toward a lack of rotation, which was predictable considering Ferrari’s low-drag package. The car displayed a degree of understeer, but unlike at Zandvoort it was not particularly problematic. This difference stems from the contrasting circuit layouts. During the day, small setup adjustments helped to reduce this lack of rotation, particularly noticeable in the Lesmo corners – especially the second one – and at the entry to the Variante Ascari. By the time FP2 arrived, the car’s balance was more neutral, with better grip at low speeds. Overall, the strengths of the SF-25 remain top speed and traction.

McLaren adds rear load to stabilize the MCL39

As expected, McLaren appeared quicker than last year. On Friday, the MCL39 showed a tendency to oversteer on corner entry. Normally, the British car is front-end strong, with high levels of front grip, which naturally makes the rear more nervous. On a low-downforce track like Monza, however, this imbalance seems less severe than it was earlier in the season, thanks also to updates that have helped bring the car into a more neutral window.

For FP2, McLaren worked on stabilizing the rear end, which tended to slide both on entry and through mid-corner. By increasing rear load, the team managed to calm this instability, making the car one of the best under traction in several sections. Fundamentally, the MCL39 enjoys an efficiency advantage, allowing it to run a touch more downforce without compromising top speed.

Red Bull still has room to improve

Red Bull cannot be counted out. Looking at the ideal gap charts, the RB21 of Max Verstappen is just one tenth behind, a margin that is far from insurmountable. From a handling perspective, there is still progress to be made, but the potential to take a step forward is definitely there.

The Dutchman highlighted familiar concerns: a lack of rotation in the fastest corners, where he lacked support on entry, and insufficient grip due to suboptimal use of the tyres. For this reason, Red Bull may still find gains through effective setup tweaks, moving the RB21 into a more competitive performance window. If they succeed, Verstappen could well insert himself fully into the fight for pole position at Monza.