Dominance at the Temple of Speed

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza witnessed another stellar performance from Max Verstappen, who triumphed in the 16th race of the season to secure his 65th career Formula 1 victory and his third of the year. The Red Bull driver capitalized on McLaren’s strategic mistakes and set the pace throughout the race.

Tension was high from the start: as soon as the lights went out, Lando Norris went off track momentarily after contact with Verstappen, though he recovered to stay in contention. By lap three, the Dutchman had seized the lead and kept the pressure firmly on the orange cars.

Meanwhile, championship leader Oscar Piastri lost ground after an early pit stop, while Norris endured a disastrous stop that effectively handed the victory to Verstappen.

Retirements and controversy

The race also delivered setbacks for other contenders. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, was forced to retire on lap 25 due to a suspension failure. Fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished outside the points after contact with Oliver Bearman on lap 41, which brought out a temporary yellow flag.

The home crowd left disappointed as Ferrari failed to live up to expectations. Charles Leclerc crossed the line in fourth, voicing frustration over strategy decisions, while Lewis Hamilton, carrying a penalty from the previous Grand Prix, managed only sixth.

Next stop: Azerbaijan

With Verstappen reaffirming his status and McLaren exposing weaknesses in the pits, the championship remains wide open. The next challenge takes Formula 1 to Baku, where the long straights and tight walls of the street circuit often deliver unpredictable outcomes.