Verstappen's masterclass and McLaren's team order stir controversy at Monza

 

Imagery courtesy of Formula One via X

Max Verstappen converted pole into a dominant victory, clocking a race time of 1:13:24.325 making it the fastest Grand Prix in F1 history. He led from lap four onwards, finishing over 19 seconds ahead of Lando Norris and reminded the paddock of Red Bull’s raw pace when conditions align. Into turn one, Verstappen squeezed Norris onto the grass then cut the chicane to retain the lead. Under pressure from Race Control, Red Bull instructed Verstappen to cede the position on lap two which he did before reclaiming it with a bold move on lap four. Norris called the move “idiotic” over team radio but later described the battle as “tough but enjoyable.”

Charles Leclerc fought hard with Oscar Piastri for third, ultimately finishing fourth, just off the podium. Lewis Hamilton in his first Monza race with Ferrari climbed from tenth to sixth, showing improved pace and confidence despite a grid penalty. Ferrari’s home crowd roared early but the team remains winless in 2025 with Leclerc calling their form “a little but in the middle of nowhere.”

After a botched pit stop for Norris, Piastri emerged ahead in second place. Despite gaining the position fairly, McLaren instructed Piastri to let Norris back through citing strategic consistency and fairness. The call came with echoes of Hungary 2024, where Norris had previously yielded to Piastri under similar circumstances.

Over team radio, Piastri protested: “We said a slow pit stop was part of racing … but if you really want me to do it, I’ll do it.”

He complied allowing Norris to finish second while settling for third, sacrificing a potential six point swing in the championship.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 324 points	McLaren – 617 points
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 293 points	Ferrari – 280 points
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 230 points	Mercedes – 260 points
George Russell (Mercedes) – 194 points	Red Bull – 239 points
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 163 points	Williams – 86 points

The MCL39’s low degradation profile allowed McLaren to gamble on a late soft tyre stint extracting pace without compromising stability. This tyre longevity has become a tactical weapon, especially in races with high speed layouts like Monza where others struggled with graining and overheating. McLaren’s ability to extend stints opens up undercut and overcut options giving them flexibility against rivals locked into more rigid strategies.

Verstappen’s Monza win wasn’t just fast, it was clinical. He led comfortably after lap four and finished over 19 seconds ahead of Norris breaking the record for fastest Grand Prix in history. Under new Team Principal Laurent Mekies, Red Bull has pivoted toward driver led setup refinement, blending simulation data with Verstappen’s feedback. The result? A more predictable, balanced RB21 that’s finally responding to upgrades just in time for the final stretch.