Five takeaways: Italian Grand Prix
- Elaina Russell
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Elaina Russell, Edited by Meghana Sree
The 2025 Italian Grand Prix had everything: record-breaking speed, a return to form for Max Verstappen, a resilient Ferrari showing in front of the Tifosi, and a tightening title fight between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Monza lived up to its billing as the Temple of Speed in a weekend that will be remembered for both its history and its emotion. Here are five key takeaways from race day in Italy.
Verstappen reclaims control in record time
Max Verstappen delivered the perfect response to questions over his season, claiming pole with a new track record (1:18.792) before converting it into his first win since Imola. It marked his 45th career pole and a commanding lights-to-flag victory, finishing more than 19 seconds clear of second-placed Lando Norris.
The Dutchman’s triumph came in style: the race was officially recognized as the fastest World Championship Grand Prix in Formula One history, with a winning time of 1:13:24.325. It was a statement drive that reset the tone of the championship – Red Bull has faltered at times, but Verstappen’s ability to dominate remains unmatched.
McLaren’s unity raises difficult questions
McLaren arrived in Monza off the back of five straight wins and locked out second and third in qualifying behind Verstappen. During the race, Norris and Oscar Piastri ran within reach throughout, but a slow stop dropped Norris behind his teammate. The team ultimately swapped positions back, leaving Piastri in third and Norris second at the flag.
“It’s what we decided as a team beforehand,” Norris explained afterward, but the decision will spark fresh debate. With the title gap down to just 31 points, at what stage does McLaren stop protecting both drivers equally? For now, the teamwork can be construed as laudable – but the championship tension continues to grow.
Ferrari give the Tifosi reason to cheer
After a double DNF in Zandvoort, Ferrari bounced back in front of their home fans. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth and finished where he started, later admitting he “couldn’t do much more” against the front three. It was a steady race regardless, and should be a confidence-restoring performance.
For Lewis Hamilton, Monza was always going to be a test with his five-place grid penalty from Zandvoort. Qualifying fifth and dropped to 10th, the Briton clawed his way to sixth, chasing down George Russell’s Mercedes and staying just behind to the flag.
“There was definitely some good overtaking,” Hamilton said. “It was tough coming from where I was to then try and catch up to all these other cars.”
Ferrari may not have had the chance to fight for the win, but the support in the grandstands turned a recovery drive into a due celebration.
Mercedes still searching for answers
It was another subdued weekend for Mercedes. Both Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished in the points, but neither had the race pace to trouble the frontrunners. Russell salvaged 10 points in fifth, while Antonelli collected just two more, but inconsistency across the board continues to be a telling issue.
For a team accustomed to dominance, the struggles are becoming increasingly glaring. With Monza exposing weaknesses in straight-line pace and strategy execution, the question becomes how quickly Mercedes can pivot before the season slips further away.
The magic of Monza endures
Beyond the numbers, Monza once again showed why it is called the Temple of Speed. The atmosphere created by Tifosi was electric, with Ferrari red draped across every surface.
Even with Verstappen’s dominance, the storylines behind – McLaren’s intra-team dynamic, Ferrari’s resurgence, Mercedes’ malaise – kept the crowd invested. Few circuits combine speed, history and passion quite like Monza, and this weekend added yet another chapter to its legacy.
Looking ahead
With Verstappen back on the top step and McLaren still holding the advantage in consistency, the championship fight is delicately poised. The gap between Piastri and Norris remains close enough to spark intra-team tension, while Ferrari will carry fresh confidence into the next round. Mercedes, meanwhile, are left with work to do if they want to rejoin the battle at the sharp end.
All eyes now turn to Baku for Round 17 of the season (19th-21st September). The streets of Azerbaijan present a completely different challenge–tight castle sections, punishing braking zones, and the longest straight in F1.
It’s a circuit that has historically delivered chaos and opportunity in equal measure. For Verstappen, it’s a chance to prove his Monza resurgence wasn’t a one-off. For McLaren, it’s about keeping both drivers in the title hunt. And for Ferrari, the Tifosi’s roar will need to be replaced by calm execution on a street track that punishes every mistake.
