Max Verstappen kicked off the Italian Grand Prix weekend on a high note, grabbing pole position and turning it into a thrilling victory at Monza on Sunday. The Red Bull star led the pack ahead of McLaren’s dynamic duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, in a race packed with drama from the very first lap to the checkered flag.
Right as the lights went out, Verstappen and Norris went head-to-head in an intense wheel-to-wheel battle down the straight. Verstappen cleverly skipped the first chicane to hold onto the lead, but he smartly handed the position back to Norris on lap two to dodge a possible penalty. True to form, the four-time reigning World Champion didn’t stay behind for long—he chased down Norris and snatched back the top spot just a few laps later, pulling away comfortably.
From that point, Verstappen kept everything under wraps, building a solid gap over the McLarens. He pitted early to boost his lead and cruised to the win without much hassle, all while his Red Bull team urged him over the radio to play it safe and avoid risks. This Italian Grand Prix win adds another chapter to Verstappen’s dominant Formula 1 season.
Meanwhile, things got spicy at McLaren during a sluggish pit stop for Norris, which let teammate Piastri slip into second place. The team quickly stepped in, asking Piastri to let Norris pass back for second, with the green light to race freely after. Piastri, the championship leader, hesitated at first but pulled off the swap smoothly. In the end, he settled for third, narrowing his points lead over Norris from 34 to 31. Ferrari fans in the stands hoped for a home hero, but Charles Leclerc finished fourth, a few seconds behind, dashing dreams of a podium or victory for the Tifosi this year.
George Russell shone for Mercedes, holding his starting spot to finish fifth with a strong drive. Lewis Hamilton bounced back from a five-place grid penalty to claim sixth, securing a decent points haul for the team. In the midfield battle, Williams’ Alex Albon impressed with a recovery drive to seventh after a tough qualifying, picking up crucial points. Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Mercedes’ young gun Kimi Antonelli followed, though Antonelli had to serve a five-second penalty for erratic driving.
Rookie Isack Hadjar stole the show as a Sunday standout, charging from a pit lane start all the way to 10th. He led Carlos Sainz’s Williams and Ollie Bearman’s Haas, which had a late-race clash at the Roggia chicane. Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points for Red Bull in 13th, with Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson close behind.
Not every team had a smooth ride. Esteban Ocon picked up a penalty for forcing Lance Stroll wide early on and finished 15th, while Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto brought up the rear for Alpine in 16th and 17th. Aston Martin started strong with both cars in points, but it all went downhill—Stroll slumped late, and Fernando Alonso suffered a suspension failure. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg didn’t even make the start due to hydraulics issues.
What a rollercoaster at the iconic Monza circuit! Verstappen’s masterclass keeps him on top in the F1 drivers’ standings, while the McLaren intra-team drama adds fuel to the championship fire. Stay tuned for more updates on the Formula 1 season.
