Key events
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Peerless Verstappen pulls away from Norris to win at Monza
Giles Richards
Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix, with a dominant run at Monza for Red Bull. Having fought a frenetic scrap on the opening laps, during which he lost and regained the lead, the Dutchman went on to pound out a lead and control it to the flag. He beat the McLaren of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third in a race defined by McLaren once more imposing orders on their drivers in the closing stages that proved controversial.
Charles Leclerc was in fourth for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton putting in a credible run at his debut in Monza for the Scuderia, moving from 10th to sixth place and George Russell taking fifth for Mercedes.
For Norris, who had taken the lead from Verstappen on the second lap but could not hold off the world champion when he came back at him, his most vital task of beating his teammate Piastri was the very least he required.
Having dropped to 34 points behind the Australian after being forced to retire in Zandvoort, he has now reduced the deficit to his rival to 31 points, with eight meetings remaining. However it came only after he had ceded a place to his teammate through a slow pit stop and Piastri was instructed to give it back. If the title is decided by fewer than three points, a moment the Australian might have cause to regret.
The victory is a huge spur for Verstappen, his first since Imola in May and only his third this season, demonstrating a feisty refusal to be cowed by both driver and team who have very much been on the back foot against McLaren this season.
Giles Richards’ full report from Monza will be available shortly.
Updated at 10.59 EDT
Verstappen’s initial thoughts on his win:
“A great day for us. Lap one was a bit unlucky but after that we were flying. The car was really enjoyable, I could manage the pace and we pitted at the right time. Just fantastic execution by everyone.
“Step by step, race by race but this was for us an unbelievable weekend.”
A few flash quotes from Norris on the pit problem near the end of the race: “No idea [what happened with the pit stop] but I guess every now and then we make mistakes as a team, and today was one of them.
“I did everything I could today, I couldn’t do a lot more. I tried to fight with Max but he came out on top and deserved it.”
Was the a few jeers for Norris from the Italian fans as they came out on to the podium? What’s that about? It’s quite the scene on the track with the tifosi unveiling a some big Ferrari banners and letting off red flares. No driver on the podium for them today, but Leclerc impressed and Hamilton made it up from tenth to sixth.
Rest of the top 10:
4. Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Russell (Mercedes)
6. Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Albon (Williams)
8. Bortoleto (Sauber)
9. Antonelli (Mercedes)
10. Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Verstappen’s win is the fastest in history. It felt like it, manic trying to keep across everything there.
ShareFinal podium
1. Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Norris (McLaren)
3. Piastri (McLaren)
ShareVerstappen wins the Italian Grand Prix!
After the first couple of laps that was never in doubt. A great drive and it looks like Red Bull has a car that could threaten for the remainder of the season. A second win of 2025 in Italy for Verstappen after taking the chequered flag at Imola too.
Max Verstappen wins in Italy! Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 10.27 EDT
Lap 53/53: Kimi Antonelli is going to get a five-second penalty. That could be costly, he has made it up to eighth but will now drop out of the points.
Lap 52/53: Verstappen now has the fastest lap again.
Lap 51/53: Verstappen laughs over the radio when he’s informed of the McLaren issues behind him. Norris is out setting fastest laps and has escaped the clutches of Piastri’s DRS.
Lap 50/53: Ocon finally pits and will serve his five second penalty.
Lap 49/53: Verstappen is told to push through to the finish and the McLaren are now battling each other. The Red Bull has been imperious so far.
Lap 48/53: McLaren will make their drivers swap. Piastri makes his case but does hand over second place to Norris. They will now race for the extra points to the chequered flag.
Lap 47/53: As it is Verstappen leads the race again and has a huge gap to McLarens.
Lap 46/53: Bad news for Norris. That changeover is a lot slower than his teammate’s and he will come out behind Piastri. Piastri is going quick, will the McLarens ask them to swap?
Lap 45/53: Piastri is going to pit first and then Norris. Norris is concerned about being undercut.
Lap 44/53: Antonelli is being investigated for an incident with Albon. Albon was forced into the grass but did get through.
Lap 43/53: When will the McLaren’s pit and will it have any impact in the battle with Verstappen?
Lap 42/53: Piastri has been cutting into Norris’s lead, it’s down to 3.5secs.
Lap 41/53: We have a spin! Battling out in the lower places, Sainz and Bearman come off the track. The Haas driver appears to clip the Williams but after a brief yellow flag we’re back underway. Martin Brundle says it’s a racing incident but the stewards will have a look.
Lap 40/53: Antonelli has been back forth in this race. He passes Gasly and is now back in the points.
Lap 39/53: Hamilton pits and comes out in ninth.
Lap 38/53: Norris leads the race but has not pitted. He’s got more than 12 seconds on Verstappen in third but that is coming down quickly as the Red Bull sets a new fastest lap.
Lap 37/53: Red Bull get a fast change done and he’s back out in third, behind Piastri and Norris. Do the McLarens still think they can hold on with these treads?
Lap 36/53: Verstappen looks like he’s going to be coming in.
Lap 35/53: Leclerc has set the fastest lap time on the hard tyres. Russell has picked off a few of the roadblocks in his way. He’s up from tenth to seventh.
Lap 34/53: Leclerc must have got his speed down in time. No issues and he rejoins in sixth, behind Hamilton and Albon.
Lap 33/53: Leclerc has been called into the pits and he looks like he came in a little hot there. Will the stewards take a look?
Lap 32/53: Russell is going quick but has a bit of train in front of him to fight through.
Lap 31/53: Norris has found a bit of place, Verstappen’s gap is coming down. It’s just over five seconds having been over six ten laps ago.
Lap 30/53: Verstappen is going long on his tyres. It looks like all the drivers in the podium places now have the oldest sets on the track.
Lap 29/53: Isack Hadjar, who is yet to pit, has worked his way from the back of the grid into the points – for now.
Lap 28/53: Russell has pitted and comes out in 10th. Not the quickest stop but the new tyres are already working. The Mercedes sets a new fastest lalp.
Lap 27/53: Interesting from the McLaren team as they ask their drivers if they can stay out on these tyres for a little longer. A change in strategy?
Lap 26/53: Russell will have to pit soon you think as he continues to slip toward Hamilton, who is sixth.
ShareFernando Alonso retires
Lap 25/53: Uh oh! Fernando Alonso is trundling, what’s the problem? A suspension issue apparently. He’s done nothing wrong and that is very unfortunate.
It’s the end of the race for Fernando Alonso. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.45 EDT
Lap 24/53: A reminder that Ocon, who is currently tenth, still has to serve a five second penalty when he next pits.
Lap 23/53: Piastri is putting in some decent sectors on third but the top four is looking pretty settled.
Lap 22/53: Antonelli is now up to seventh but his teammate Russell could well be feeling the heat of Hamilton on his neck very soon.
Lap 21/53: Verstappen’s is still pulling away at the front.