Verstappen Dominates 2025 Italian GP

(Image credit: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory at 2025 Italian Grand Prix in the fastest-ever F1 race.

Verstappen conceded the lead to Lando Norris on lap 2 after an opening-lap clash but retook the position on lap 4 and subsequently built a massive gap prior to his stop on lap 38. before he resumed the lead on lap 47 to the checkered flag.

Norris settled for second ahead of Oscar Piastri who rounded out the podium ahead of Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Alex Albon drove from 14th on the grid to seventh ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar – who had started in the pit lane.

In the drivers’ standings, Piastri’s 34-point lead over Norris was slightly trimmed down to 31 points heading to Baku, Azerbaijan from 19-21 September.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Nico Hulkenberg failed to make the start after he was instructed on the formation lap to pit to retire with a hydraulic issue but once the race commenced, Verstappen immediately nudged Norris onto the grass then cut the Variante Del Rettifilo with no intention to turn fully into the second part of the chicane to keep his lead.

Verstappen however gave the lead up to Norris at the start of lap 2 to pacify stewards and the threat of a penalty, only to retake the lead two laps later and build a lead of over six seconds to Norris.

Piastri meanwhile lost third to Leclerc in the opening sector but regained the position through the first Lesmo Curve on the outside line, only to be repassed by the Monegasque on the next lap into Variante Del Rettifilo but late braked into the same corner on lap 6 to take the position back.

Lawson started on the softs from 18th on the grid and made his first stop for hard tyres on lap 11 which allowed him to undercut Bearman and Tsunoda when they pitted at the end of laps 18 and 19 respectively.

Bortoleto headed Alonso in seventh and eighth respectively when they pitted on lap 21 but the latter undercut Bortoleto in their stops, but was forced to retire on lap 25 with a front-right suspension failure on his Aston Martin.

Up front, Verstappen began to lose grip in his medium tyres from lap 30 as Norris trimmed 1.3 seconds off the four-time champion until Verstappen pitted at the end of lap 37 for the hard tyres.

Just as Norris began lap 41, Sainz and Bearman spun at Variante Della Roggia after the Spaniard on the outside line turned in and left no room for Bearman’s front-right tyre, although the pair continued and avoided a potential safety car.

Norris pitted at the end of lap 46 but a slow stop allowed Piastri to jump him for second after the Aussie pitted a lap earlier to cover off Leclerc, although Piastri respected team orders to swap positions back on lap 49 but couldn’t repass Norris for second before the checkered flag.

Verstappen out in front recorded the biggest winning margin since he won the 2024 Sao Paulo GP, whilst his victory was the fastest full race in F1 history at one hour, 13 minutes and 24.325 seconds.

Position Driver Team Laps Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 53 1h 13m 24.325
2 Lando Norris McLaren 53 + 19.207
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren 53 + 21.351
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 53 + 25.624
5 George Russell Mercedes 53 + 32.881
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 53 + 37.449
7 Alex Albon Williams 53 + 50.537
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber 53 + 58.484
9 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 53 + 59.762
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 53 + 63.891
11 Carlos Sainz Williams 53 + 64.469
12 Oliver Bearman Haas 53 + 79.288
13 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 53 + 80.701
14 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 53 + 82.351
15 Esteban Ocon Haas 52 + 1 Lap
16 Pierre Gasly Alpine 52 + 1 Lap
17 Franco Colapinto Alpine 52 + 1 Lap
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 52 + 1 Lap
RET Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 24 Suspension
DNS Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 0 Hydraulic

2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

  1. Verstappen Believes Red Bull got “boost” from Italian GP Heading into Azerbaijan – Sport Grill
  2. Hamilton Tops Friday Practice at 2025 Azerbaijan GP – Sport Grill

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