F1 Italian GP: Max Verstappen delivers a masterclass at Monza, Ferrari struggles to fourth and sixth. Max Verstappen delivers a masterclass at Monza as Red Bull dominates the Italian GP.

Verstappen and Red Bull work a miracle at Monza. Ferrari finishes fourth and lacks spark, McLaren fails to impress

The analysis of the Italian Grand Prix was dominated by the brilliant performance of the Dutch champion, Max Verstappen.

The incredible sea of red that flooded the Monza circuit deserved far more than fourth and sixth place. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, however, do not have a car capable of achieving more this year, meaning they had to settle for mid-field positions even on the track most loved by Italian fans. The strategy of reducing aerodynamic drag to gain straight-line speed only worked to a limited extent, forcing Charles and Lewis to rely on exceptional driving skills.

Trying to find a consoling angle, one could point out that Leclerc finished just four seconds behind the world championship leader, but these are minor details that say little. Ferrari was expected to fight for victory at the Italian GP but instead faced an outstanding Red Bull-Honda powered by Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion immediately pulled away after passing Lando Norris, who had jumped the first chicane irregularly. What followed was a relatively easy run, with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggling against each other and, for once, lacking a car capable of making an impact. A notable moment came at the end when Norris, comfortably in second, stopped for a pit stop but was delayed by a technical issue. Andrea Stella quickly gave an order from the pit wall: “Swap positions.” The two drivers complied with humility, professionalism, and in Piastri’s case, resignation. Oscar lost only a few points and remains the championship leader with a 31-point advantage over Lando.

Ferrari, which deserves credit for attempting the surprise tactic of running with low downforce, ultimately followed its own pace. Leclerc fought fiercely with Piastri in the opening laps, knowing he would have to relent later. After that, he easily pulled away from George Russell but could do little more. Hamilton also performed decently, gaining four positions from his starting grid spot and maintaining a solid pace throughout the race. Team principal Frederic Vasseur commented that “it’s nice to have both cars there,” in fourth and sixth positions—but is he sure fans feel the same? Leclerc’s statement is more realistic: “It hurts to race like this.”

Monza marked a turning-point victory for Red Bull, the first under Laurent Mekies’ management (another former Ferrari figure finding success elsewhere), the first post-Horner win, and the first true technical display of strength following Adrian Newey’s departure. A visibly excited Verstappen said, “I want to win again,” emphasizing that his car is far superior to what it was just a few races ago. Indeed, Red Bull returned after the summer break in spectacular form, even handing McLaren a 20-second deficit—a scenario few could have imagined.

That was Monza. The rest? Boring, as the legendary Califano would say. A predictable race, a procession with few overtakes, and limited excitement. It’s needless to repeat that the hundred thousand fans who attended deserved much more. But this is Formula 1. And this is Monza.