Ferrari tries to play its cards right, team radios spark debate: the key moments of the 2025 F1 Italian GP. Max Verstappen dominated the 2025 Monza Grand Prix.

F1 | Monza GP – Ferrari tries the big push but team radios spark debate: the key moments of Sunday

It was a flawless weekend for Max Verstappen: pole position, track record, and race victory. Ferrari showed courage at Monza but ultimately missed the podium. Here are the key moments of the Italian Grand Prix Sunday.

Max Verstappen won the Monza GP ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari had to settle for fourth and sixth place. Let’s take a closer look at the decisive points of the race.

Charles Leclerc vs Oscar Piastri in the fight for the podium

Ferrari tried to play its cards right from the very start of the Italian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc pushed hard to overtake Oscar Piastri in the opening laps, but those attempts had consequences on the rest of his race. To keep pace with the McLaren, the Monegasque driver overheated his tyres early on and then needed about ten laps to bring them back to the right operating window. Still, his bold move around the outside of Oscar Piastri on the first lap deserves mention as one of the highlights of the race.

Verstappen’s dominance

Apart from a small mistake at the very beginning of the Grand Prix, Max Verstappen delivered a perfect performance. With a flawless strategy and relentless pace, he was untouchable. Neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri ever had a real chance to challenge him for victory. Verstappen crossed the finish line with a 20-second advantage over Norris and a staggering 80-second margin over his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

Controversial team radios

McLaren was among the last teams to pit. They chose to stop Oscar Piastri first, covering off a possible undercut attempt from Charles Leclerc. In the final laps, Lando Norris also made his stop, switching from medium to soft tyres. However, a problem with the left-front tyre slowed down the pit stop, costing Norris second place. Acknowledging their mistake, the team instructed Piastri to hand the position back to his teammate. The current World Championship leader did not resist and allowed Norris through. Was it the right decision? The debate is still open.

Hamilton finds confidence at Monza

Lewis Hamilton started from tenth on the grid after serving a penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix. Despite that setback, the seven-time world champion produced one of his best weekends since joining Ferrari. Tasked with a comeback race, Hamilton quickly gained two positions in the opening laps. His charge, however, ended just behind George Russell, and he crossed the finish line in sixth place. A solid result that gave both Hamilton and Ferrari confidence going forward.