Formula 1’s 2025 Italian Grand Prix(Monza) Review
Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass at the Temple of Speed, securing his 66th career victory and his third win of the 2025 season with a commanding drive from pole. But that wasn’t all—he also etched his name in the history books by clocking the fastest lap ever recorded in Formula 1, underlining his supreme pace around Monza. With team orders unfolding behind him at McLaren and Ferrari failing to capitalize on home soil, the Italian Grand Prix was anything but predictable.
If you missed the action or just want to relive the chaos, drama, and brilliance of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, read on. And don’t forget to bookmark GrandPrixExperience.com for all your post-race breakdowns, driver features, and F1 insights after every Grand Prix weekend.
Italian Grand Prix 2025 – Qualifying Recap
Verstappen snatches pole in high-stakes showdown at Monza
A thrilling qualifying session at the Temple of Speed ended with Max Verstappen silencing the Tifosi by snatching pole from under McLaren’s nose. With both papaya cars looking strong through all three practice sessions, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri appeared on course to lock out the front row once again—but Verstappen had other ideas.
The Dutchman threw down a mighty 1:18.792 lap in Q3, beating Norris by just 0.077s. While Norris briefly claimed provisional pole on his final run, Verstappen’s response was immediate and decisive, delivering one of his finest laps of the season. Piastri, though close, had to settle for third after lacking that final punch through the Ascari chicane.
Ferrari fans had something to cheer about with Charles Leclerc qualifying fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth, but grid penalties meant Hamilton would start further down on Sunday. Mercedes showed a different approach, starting Q1 on mediums before switching to softs, which helped both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli qualify sixth and seventh respectively.
Gabriel Bortoleto continued his impressive form by securing eighth for Kick Sauber, while Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten. Notably, Isack Hadjar—who just came off his first career podium in Zandvoort—suffered a shock Q1 exit after a mistake at Lesmo 2. The Racing Bulls rookie was audibly furious over the radio.
Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon struggled to match expectations, qualifying 13th and 14th, and the day ended in frustration for both Alpine drivers and Liam Lawson, who had a lap deleted for track limits.
Final Qualifying Classification – Monza 2025
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:19.455 | 1:19.140 | 1:18.792 | 18 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:19.517 | 1:19.293 | 1:18.869 | 21 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:19.711 | 1:19.286 | 1:18.982 | 19 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:19.689 | 1:19.310 | 1:19.007 | 20 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:19.765 | 1:19.371 | 1:19.124 | 20 |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:19.414 | 1:19.287 | 1:19.157 | 18 |
| 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:19.747 | 1:19.245 | 1:19.200 | 22 |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:19.688 | 1:19.323 | 1:19.390 | 21 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:19.658 | 1:19.362 | 1:19.424 | 20 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:19.619 | 1:19.433 | 1:19.519 | 18 |
Formula 1’s 2025 Italian Grand Prix Race Review
Verstappen tames McLaren at Monza, clinches third win of the season
When the lights went out, Verstappen immediately had to fend off a rapid-starting Norris who lunged into the first chicane. Verstappen skipped it, cutting across the run-off, and although he gave the position back on Lap 2 to avoid a penalty, it wasn’t long before he took it right back—sailing around the outside of Turn 1 to reclaim the lead on Lap 4.
Behind them, chaos brewed. Leclerc and Piastri traded blows early, with the Aussie pulling off a beautiful move around Lesmo 1 to take back third. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, demoted to 10th due to a grid penalty, wasted no time slicing through the field. By Lap 10, he was up to sixth, just behind teammate George Russell, who had been quietly executing another clinical race.
Alonso was in the mix too—until disaster struck. Just after his stop, the Aston Martin driver clattered the Ascari kerbs and limped to the pits with a suspected suspension failure. His DNF opened the door for Albon, Bortoleto, and Antonelli to slip into the top ten.
McLaren looked poised to challenge Verstappen on strategy, hinting at a late switch to softs. But things took a turn when Piastri undercut Norris due to a slow stop from the Brit. McLaren, in damage control mode, instructed Piastri to give the place back to Norris—echoes of Hungary 2024 all over again. Piastri complied, but couldn’t mount a counterattack. Verstappen, meanwhile, was in a league of his own.
The Red Bull driver crossed the line nearly 20 seconds clear, showing a return to form and ending McLaren’s winning streak. Leclerc salvaged fourth for Ferrari in front of the Tifosi, while Russell and Hamilton delivered solid points in fifth and sixth. Albon impressed again in seventh, and Bortoleto continued his strong rookie season with eighth.
Kimi Antonelli finished ninth despite a penalty for erratic driving, and Isack Hadjar earned a single point after a pit-lane start—rounding out a solid recovery.
Final Classification – 2025 Italian Grand Prix
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 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 | +37.449s | 8 |
| 7 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +50.537s | 6 |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | +58.484s | 4 |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +59.762s | 2 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +63.891s | 1 |
| 11 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +64.469s | 0 |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +79.288s | 0 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | +80.701s | 0 |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +82.351s | 0 |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 16 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 17 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1 Lap | 0 |
| NC | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | DNF (Suspension) | 0 |
| DNS | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | Did Not Start | 0 |
Conclusion
Verstappen reminded the F1 world that he’s still a championship contender—and still capable of delivering jaw-dropping performances when it matters. Not only did he collect a dominant victory, he shattered the lap record in the process and silenced any doubters lingering after a tricky start to 2025.
For McLaren, the team orders saga will raise eyebrows. Piastri played the team game, but the call wasn’t without its controversy. Ferrari, meanwhile, had to settle for watching the podium from afar on home soil—again.
We head next to Azerbaijan, where the tight Baku street circuit promises another twist in what’s been a wildly unpredictable season.
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