If you ever needed a reminder that Formula 1 is a sport where the more things change, the more they stay the same, the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza delivered it with the subtlety of a V12 at full chat down the Curva Grande. On a day when the Tifosi’s hopes soared and then, inevitably, fizzled, Max Verstappen reminded us that pole position is not just a statistic, but a statement. McLaren, meanwhile, found themselves embroiled in a team orders drama that would have made Ron Dennis reach for the thesaurus, and Ferrari… well, Ferrari did what Ferrari does best at home: they promised, they threatened, and ultimately, they disappointed.
- The Race That Was: Verstappen’s Iron Grip
- Table: 2025 Italian Grand Prix – Final Standings
- McLaren: Team Orders and the Papaya Paradox
- Ferrari: The Monza Mirage
- The Supporting Cast: Surprises and Subplots
- Team Orders: The Oldest Trick in the Book
- Monza: Where History Never Sleeps
- The Numbers Game: Verstappen’s Place in History
- Waste a Bit More Time
Let’s take a walk through the Temple of Speed, where history, heartbreak, and the occasional miracle are as much a part of the landscape as the ancient pines and the ghost of Ascari.
The Race That Was: Verstappen’s Iron Grip
Monza, September 7, 2025. The sun was out, the grandstands were a sea of red, and the air was thick with anticipation—and, as ever, the faint aroma of burnt clutch. Max Verstappen, starting from pole after a lap that set a new record (1:18.792, for those keeping score), was the man to beat. And beat him, nobody did.
The opening lap was a microcosm of modern F1: Verstappen and Lando Norris went wheel-to-wheel, the Dutchman skipping the first chicane and, in a rare display of sporting caution, handing the lead back to Norris to avoid a penalty. It was a brief moment of hope for McLaren, and for those who still believe in fairy tales. But Verstappen, clinical as ever, reclaimed the lead within two laps and never looked back.
Max Verstappen claimed his third win of the 2025 season with a commanding display at Monza on Sunday.Formula1.com Race Report
From there, it was a masterclass in race management. Verstappen pitted early, controlled the gap, and cruised to the chequered flag, 19 seconds clear of the nearest McLaren. It was his second win at Monza, and if you’re keeping track, that puts him in the company of some rather illustrious names—though still a long way from Michael Schumacher’s five.
Table: 2025 Italian Grand Prix – Final Standings
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time/Gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:13:24.325 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +19.207s | 18 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +21.351s | 15 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +25.624s | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +32.881s | 10 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +38.002s | 8 |
| 7 | Alex Albon | Williams | +44.110s | 6 |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | +47.203s | 4 |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +49.876s | 2 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +52.001s | 1 |
McLaren: Team Orders and the Papaya Paradox
If you thought McLaren’s biggest problem this year would be keeping up with Red Bull, you haven’t been paying attention. The real drama unfolded not in the garages, but on the pit wall, where a slow stop for Norris allowed Oscar Piastri to leapfrog his teammate. For a brief, tantalizing moment, it looked as though the Australian might extend his championship lead. But then came the radio call: Oscar, let Lando through.
Piastri, to his credit, questioned the order, but ultimately obeyed. Norris was back in second, but the damage—to team harmony, if not the points table—was done. The Papaya Paradox: fast enough to challenge, not quite ruthless enough to conquer.
Given the unusual circumstances, McLaren asked Piastri to move aside for Norris, after which they would be free to race. It was an instruction the championship leader initially questioned, but ultimately obeyed, thanks to a well-orchestrated swap.Formula1.com
If you’re looking for a parallel, cast your mind back to Austria 2002, when Rubens Barrichello was told to let Michael Schumacher through. The difference? That was for a win. This was for the right to finish second behind a driver who looked like he was barely breaking a sweat.
Ferrari: The Monza Mirage
Ah, Ferrari. The Tifosi arrived in their thousands, hoping for a repeat of Leclerc’s 2024 heroics. Instead, they got a familiar story: flashes of speed, strategic gambles, and ultimately, a podium just out of reach. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, a few seconds adrift of the McLarens, while Lewis Hamilton—still adjusting to life in red—recovered from a grid penalty to finish sixth.
Leclerc ‘disappointed but not surprised’ with P4 in Monza Qualifying.Charles Leclerc, via Formula1.com
It’s a script Ferrari fans know by heart. The last time the Scuderia won at Monza was 2019. Since then, hope has been rationed out in ever smaller doses. Today was no different.
The Supporting Cast: Surprises and Subplots
Behind the headline acts, there were stories worth telling. Alex Albon delivered a stellar drive for Williams, salvaging seventh and crucial points in the midfield battle. Gabriel Bortoleto, the Kick Sauber rookie, impressed with eighth, while Kimi Antonelli, the latest Italian hope, brought his Mercedes home in ninth despite a time penalty.
Isack Hadjar, starting from the pit lane, clawed his way to tenth—a performance that will have raised eyebrows and, perhaps, expectations.
Elsewhere, there was heartbreak for Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin suffered a suspension failure, and for Nico Hulkenberg, whose Sauber didn’t even make the start due to hydraulics gremlins. The gods of Monza, it seems, are as capricious as ever.
Team Orders: The Oldest Trick in the Book
If you’re new to Formula 1, you might think team orders are a modern invention, a product of the data-driven, PR-obsessed era. You’d be wrong. Team orders have been around since the days when drivers wore goggles and mechanics smoked in the pit lane. The difference now is that everyone can hear the radio calls.
Today’s McLaren drama was just the latest in a long line of intra-team squabbles. From Senna and Prost at McLaren in the late 1980s, to Hamilton and Rosberg at Mercedes, the sport has always been as much about politics as pace.
And if you think this is the last we’ll hear of it this season, I have a bridge in Maranello to sell you.
Monza: Where History Never Sleeps
Monza is not just a circuit; it’s a living museum. The ghosts of past heroes and villains haunt every corner. This is the track where Peter Gethin won by 0.01 seconds in 1971, where Ferrari achieved a miracle 1-2 in 1988 just weeks after Enzo’s death, and where tragedy has struck more than once.
The fastest lap ever recorded here? Rubens Barrichello, 2004: 257.321 km/h. Today’s cars are safer, smarter, and arguably less visceral, but the spirit of Monza endures.
Monza’s history is filled with high-speed drama, tragic accidents, emotional victories, and controversial moments—making it one of the most storied venues in Formula 1.F1 Historical Records
The Numbers Game: Verstappen’s Place in History
With today’s win, Verstappen adds a second Monza victory to his resume. For context, Michael Schumacher leads the pack with five wins here, followed by Nelson Piquet and Lewis Hamilton with three apiece. Verstappen’s tally may seem modest, but in an era of unprecedented competition and reliability, every win counts double.
And let’s not forget: Verstappen’s pole lap yesterday set a new record for the circuit, a reminder that even in a sport obsessed with the past, the future is always arriving—one tenth at a time.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’ve made it this far, you’re either a true fan or you’ve lost the remote. Either way, here’s how to keep the Monza magic alive a little longer:
- Verstappen charges to Italian GP win over Norris and Piastri – Full Race Report
- Catch up on the action as Verstappen wins Italian GP – Race Highlights
- F1 Italian Grand Prix 2025: Full Results And Race Report | Yardbarker
- Italian Grand Prix 2025 at Monza: Follow live build-up – ESPN
And if you want to relive the drama, the controversy, and the heartbreak, you could do worse than to start with the official F1 highlights on YouTube:
Catch up on the action as Verstappen wins Italian GP
