Max Verstappen returned to form this Sunday by winning the Italian Grand Prix in style, his first victory since May. The Red Bull driver, who set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history at Monza the day before, transformed his pole position into a controlled triumph, crossing the line almost twenty seconds ahead of Lando Norris.
The Dutchman, already a four-time world champion, had only won twice this season before this Italian event. On the radio, a relieved man, he thanked his team: "What a perfect performance! What an incredible weekend. We can be proud of ourselves." With this victory, he consolidated his third place in the championship, although he remains 94 points behind leader Oscar Piastri.
Norris and Piastri under pressure, Ferrari saves the honor
Behind Verstappen, the internal struggle at McLaren animated the race. Norris, having recovered from a frustrating retirement at Zandvoort, took advantage of a team order to overtake Piastri in the closing laps, not without protest from the Australian. "I felt like I waited too long," admitted Norris, aware that the episode could weigh on the title battle.
At home, Ferrari was able to count on Charles Leclerc, carried by the tifosi, to grab fourth place. Lewis Hamilton, penalized on the grid, made a nice comeback to sixth position.
A strong signal from Red Bull
Despite a lively start to the race, marked by a heated duel with Norris at the first corner, Verstappen quickly regained control. After his pit stop, he briefly let the McLarens slip away before retaking the lead, remaining untroubled until the checkered flag.
"The first lap was complicated, but after that we were literally flying," Verstappen summed up. "These kinds of days, at a legendary circuit like Monza, make this sport truly special." The top 10 was completed by George Russell, Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar, the latter taking advantage of a penalty imposed on the young Italian.
Monza offered Verstappen a breath of fresh air in a mixed season, reminding him that the Dutch champion is still capable, when everything aligns, of dominating the field as he did in the best days of his supremacy.
