Race Notes - Verstappen wins in Monza

By Mark Karp

Polesitter Max Verstappen in his Red Bull-Honda won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Lando Norris in his McLaren-Mercedes finished in second place 19.207 seconds behind, and his team mate Oscar Piastri in third, 21.351 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Verstappen’s third of the 2025 season, and 66th of his career. The win is Verstappen’s third Italian GP win of his career.

Piastri scored his 24 podium finish, and continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship by 31 points over Norris.

After the fastest ever qualifying lap yesterday, Verstappen scored the fastest ever Formula One Grand Prix race win at 1 h13m 24.325s.

Charles Leclerc (25.624s) in the Ferrari was fourth, followed by George Russell (32.881s) in the Mercedes GP was fifth, Lewis Hamilton (37.449s) in the second Ferrari was sixth, Alex Albon (50.537s) in the Williams-Mercedes was seventh, Gabriel Bortoleto (58.484s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was eighth, Kiimi Antonelli (59.762s) in the second Mercedes was ninth, and Isack Hadjar (1m03.891s) in the Racing Bulls-Honda, after starting from the pit lane, took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start, it was another nice late summer afternoon at Monza. Verstappen starts on pole with Norris alongside on the front row, Piastri and Leclerc on row 2, the Mercedes of Russell and Antonelli on row 3, Bortoleto and Fernando Alonso on row 4, and Tsunoda and Hamilton, with his 5-place grid penalty starts from tenth.

All drivers are expecting to run a one-pitstop race strategy.

The top 13 starting on medium compound tyres, Albon, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll on hards, Hadjar and Pierre Gasly starting from the pit lane on hards, and Liam Lawson starting 18th on soft tyres.

At the appointed time the field came around in front of the huge crowd to the grid, on the formation lap. Hulkenberg is called into the pits to retire.

The lights went out and the the race began with Verstappen at the front, Norris touches the grass on the inside. Into the first chicane Verstappen cuts accross Verstappen and kept the lead.

At the end of lap 1 Verstappen lets Norris past, as not to get a penalty.

Piastri passes Leclerc outside Lesmo corner.

The next lap Leclerc passes Piastri back for third.

On lap 3 into the first corner Piastri is looking to pass Leclerc, but is unable.

Bortoleto is looking to pass Russell, but can’t do so.

On the start of lap 4 Verstappen passes Norris into the first corner to retake the lead, they are followed by Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Bortoleto, Alonso, Hamilton, Tsunoda and Antonelli in tenth.

On lap 5 Hamilton passes Alonso for seventh.

On lap 6 Piastri passes Leclerc for third at the first corner.

On lap 7 Hamilton passes Bortoleto at the first corner for sixth.

At lap 10 Verstappen leads Norris by 2.3 seconds, followed by Piastri (6.7s), Leclerc (7.8s), Russell (8.2s), Hamilton (10.5s), Bortoleto (11.5s), Alonso (12.1s), Tsunoda (14.0s), and Antonelli (15.1s) in tenth.

Ocon is given a 5-second penalty for forcing Stroll off track.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m23.101s, and again the next lap at 1m23.088s, and again at 1m23.066s, and again at 1m23.014s.

On lap 18 Antonelli passes Tsunoda for ninth.

Norris at the second Lesmo corner kicks up some gravel.

On lap 19 Oliver Bearman is the first to pits for hard tyres.

On lap 20 Tsunoda pits for hard tyres, and is passed by Bearman into the second chicane.

On lap 21 Bortoleto and Alonso pit, Alonso getting ahead.

At lap 25 Verstappen leads Norris by 6.1 seconds, followed by Piastri (12.3s), Leclerc (17.7s), Russell (19.9s), Hamilton (21.8s), Antonelli (30.8s), Carlos Sainz (35.1s), Albon (35.9s), and Ocon (37.1s) in tenth.

On lap 25 Alonso creeps back to the pits after breaking his front suspension at the exit of Ascari and retires.

Williams lets Albon past Sainz for eighth place.

On lap 28 Sainz pits.

Lawson and Tsunoda touch entering the second chicane.

On lap 29 Antonelii pits, and rejoins14th.

At lap 30 Verstappen leads Norris by 6.0 seconds, followed by Piastri (12.2s), Leclerc (19.0s), Hamilton (25.9s), Albon (39.1s), Sainz (41.3s), Ocon (42.2s), Stroll (44.1s), Hadjar (45.0s), and Russell (48.5s) in tenth.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m22.700s.

On lap 33 Hadjar pits for medium tyres and rejoins 14th.

On lap 34 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins sixth behind Albon.

On lap 35 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m22.170s.

On lap 37 Verstappen pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins third.

On lap 39 Hamilton pits from sixth and rejoins ninth.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m21.402s.

On lap 41 Bearman and Sainz make contact into the second chicane and spin, but both continue.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m21.358s.

Albon passes Antonelli for ninth.

At lap 45 Norris leads Piastri by 3.7 seconds, followed by Verstappen (11.6s), Leclerc (32.7s), Russell (37.4s), Hamilton (44.4s), Ocon (47.5s), Stroll (49.6s), Albon (55.8s), and Antonelli (57.3s) in tenth.

On lap 46 Piastri pits for soft tyres anmd rejoins third behind Verstappen.

The next lap Norris pits from the lead for soft tyres and has a slow stop, and rejoins in third behind Piastri.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m21.256s.

Bearman is given a 10-second penalty for contact with Sainz.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m21.038s.

On lap 49 McLaren tells Piastri to let Norris past.

Norris passes Piastri for second, and the team tells them they are now free to race.

Piastri trails Norris by 0.8 seconds.

Red Bull tells Verstappen that McLaren has let Norris past Piastri, and Verstappen comments, “just because they had a slow stop?”.

On lap 52 Piastri trails Norris by 1.6 seconds.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m21.003s.

On lap 53 Antonelli is given a 5-second penalty for track limits.

At the finish Verstappen wins ahead of Norris and Piastri.

On the last lap Norris sets fast lap at 1m20.901s.