Speed Records and a Flawless Win

• Max Verstappen secured pole position and turned it into a commanding victory — his third win of the season and his third at Monza in four years.   
• It was the fastest Grand Prix in F1 history, averaging 250.706 km/h, surpassing Schumacher’s 2003 record.  
• The total race time was an astonishing 1:13:24.325.  
• On the final lap, Lando Norris clocked the fastest race lap ever, achieving an average 257.78 km/h.  

Verstappen described the weekend as “flying” and praised the team’s “fantastic execution.” 

The Podium and Championship Stakes

• Lando Norris (McLaren) finished second, consistently trailing Verstappen in all his 2025 wins.  
• Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, crossed third after following team orders to allow Norris through.  
• Championship-wise, Piastri remains in the lead, but Norris has trimmed the gap to 31 points, with eight races left.   

Pit-aStop Drama: Team Orders Controversy

A slow pit stop for Norris left him behind Piastri. McLaren radioed Piastri to yield — a request he reluctantly complied with. 

The decision sparked criticism. Some saw it as necessary race management; others, including Toto Wolff, feared it set a dangerous precedent. 

Notable Performances & Penalties

• Charles Leclerc bagged fourth place, fueling home fan hopes.  
• Lewis Hamilton recovered from a grid penalty to finish sixth, exemplifying resilience.  
• George Russell landed in fifth, giving Mercedes a solid outing.  

Incidents and Penalties:

• Fernando Alonso retired with a suspension failure.  
• Nico Hülkenberg didn’t start due to a hydraulic failure.  
• Carlos Sainz Jr. spun after contact with Haas’ Oliver Bearman; Bearman received a 10-second penalty and two license points.  
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) got a 5-second penalty for forcing off-track and still finished eighth.  

Broader Reflection

• The race marked Red Bull’s first win since Christian Horner’s departure as team principal.  
• McLaren’s “papaya rules” — a spirit of fair, clean racing — is being tested by the team orders fallout.  
• Despite the drama, the weekend belonged to Verstappen — both for performance and strategic excellence.

Summary Table