In a display of sheer dominance that silenced the passionate Tifosi and reaffirmed Red Bull’s resurgence, Max Verstappen claimed victory at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, converting pole position into a commanding win at the Temple of Speed. The four-time world champion not only ended his four-month drought without a Grand Prix triumph but also etched his name into the record books with the fastest race in Formula 1 history.
Starting from the front row after a blistering qualifying lap that set the all-time fastest time at Monza, Verstappen faced immediate pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris. The pair went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1, with Norris attempting an inside move that forced Verstappen to cut the chicane. Opting to avoid a potential penalty, Verstappen briefly yielded the lead to Norris at the end of the opening lap. Undeterred, the Dutch driver reclaimed first place on Lap 4, pulling away decisively thereafter.
From there, it was a “MAX-terclass” in precision and pace. Verstappen led every remaining lap, extending his advantage to over 19 seconds by the chequered flag. The 53-lap race clocked in at an astonishing 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 3 seconds – surpassing Michael Schumacher’s 2003 record for the quickest Grand Prix ever, with an average speed of 250.706 km/h. This marked Verstappen’s third win of the season, his 66th career victory, and his third triumph at Monza in the last four years, adding another chapter to his Italian success story following earlier wins at Imola this year.
Behind him, McLaren’s duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri completed a strong 1-2-3 finish for the front row starters, but not without internal drama. A slow pit stop for Norris on Lap 42 dropped him behind Piastri, prompting team orders for the Australian to yield second place back to his teammate. Piastri complied, narrowing his championship lead over Norris to 31 points, but the decision reignited debates over McLaren’s handling of their intra-team title fight. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc salvaged fourth for the home crowd, fending off Mercedes’ George Russell in fifth, while Lewis Hamilton recovered from a grid penalty to sixth.
Verstappen’s performance was lauded across the paddock, earning him the fan-voted Driver of the Day award – a fitting accolade for a drive that Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies described as “perfection.” “It was an unbelievable weekend,” Verstappen said post-race, reflecting on the team’s shift to prioritize driver feedback in setup, which unlocked the RB21’s potential at this low-downforce track.9fc26b Even Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted, “Max made everybody look stupid today.”
The victory injects fresh momentum into Red Bull’s campaign, closing the gap slightly in the Constructors’ Championship where McLaren still leads. With Verstappen trailing Piastri by 94 points in the Drivers’ standings, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in two weeks promises more intrigue as F1 heads east.
As the orange army chanted “Max Verstappen” amid the sea of red, Monza witnessed a simply lovely reminder of why the Dutchman remains the benchmark in modern Formula 1.
