07/09/2025
NEWS STORY
Bearing in mind David Croft's near orgasm over the fastest ever lap in the history of the sport, it's probably best not to remind him that Monza was also the site of the closest ever finish in the history of F1, Peter Gethin edging out Ronnie Peterson by 0.010s in 1971, in a race in which the top five finishers were covered by just 0.061s.
Then again, based on yesterday's qualifying coverage, were a similar finish on the cards today the cameras would no doubt cut away to the premature celebrations in the back of the McLaren garage or perhaps a group of children or women in the grandstands.
Sadly, due to the numerous changes to the track and indeed the cars, such close racing is the stuff of history so let's not get carried away.
That said, it was a brilliant lap from Max, while Lando also deserved credit for his time considering that it came at the end of a "push, cool, cool, push" strategy.
With no hope of the Weather Gods getting involved it is unlikely that Max can covert his pole position into a win, but you can rest assured that he will give it his best. No wonder Toto is in no rush to 'announce' a new deal with George, for the Austrian clearly wants a one-year deal that will leave him free to recruit the Dutchman in 2027 as the Briton well knows.
At the end of that long, long run down the main straight comes one of the hardest braking spots on the entire calendar, the scene of many an incident, so as ever the old adage of surviving the first lap before thinking about winning very much applies.
However, as we have seen over the years, the second chicane is just as notorious - remember last year - as are the Lesmos and Ascari.
While the Autodromo is pretty much point and squirt compared to the old days it is still a track to be treated with respect, and one that bites back.
Throughout the weekend we have seen drivers struggle for grip, be it the tyres or the wind, and the main priority, other than surviving the opening corners is to keep it on the black stuff.
The McLarens have to be favourites, and while Max will be up there we expect him to be fighting for a podium, but with whom.
Leclerc will be boosted by the home crowd, however his team's hopes take a serious knock with his teammate's demotion to tenth courtesy of the Zandvoort penalty.
The warm conditions will not help Mercedes, meaning that the likes of Bortoleto, Alonso and Bearman could spring a surprise.
Going back to the nature of the track, whatever happens out front, the rest of the field is likely to feature on or two DRS trains so a good start - and optimal tyre strategy - is imperative.
From the three hours of free practice it's clear to see that this will be a race with only one pit stop. Medium and hard should be the compounds doing most of the work, offering the best compromise between performance and durability and, between the two there's not much difference in terms of degradation.
Having said that, the soft could find itself with an important role, especially for drivers able to lengthen the opening stint at least to lap 32, or on the other hand, if there's a neutralisation towards the end of the race.
Verstappen has two sets of fresh hards, while all the big guns have just one set of new mediums.
Having had new engines fitted overnight, Gasly and Hadjar will both start from the pitlane, having qualified 19th and 16th respectively.
The pitlane opens and Bortoleto leads the way, followed by Hulkenberg, Lawson, Antonelli and Russell.
Barely before a wheel has turned, both Aston Martin drivers are in trouble for practice start infringements. They will be investigated after the race.
All are starting on mediums bar Albon, Ocon, Stroll Hadjar and Gasly who are on hards, and Lawson who is on softs. Fresh rubber for everyone bar Stroll and Hadjar.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away.
As the pitlane opens, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees.
All around the circuit the fans cheer the field.
"Box to retire the car," Hulkenberg is told as the grid forms. "Are you serious?" he asks.
They're away!
As Verstappen and Norris are neck and next down the straight, Piastri tucks in behind the Red Bull. Norris runs wide over the grass kicking up a cloud of dust.
Norris has the inside for the first part of the chicane but Verstappen has the inside for phase 2. However, the Dutchman misses the corner and rejoins ahead of Norris while behind Leclerc and Piastri are side-by-side. Further back Bortoleto and Tsunoda also cut the corner.
"What the ****, what is this idiot doing," asks Norris, "he put me on the grass and then cut the corner."
Leclerc gets ahead of Piastri as they exit the first chicane, the pack heading around the Curva Grande.
Into the second chicane Norris is all over Verstappen while Leclerc is all over the McLaren. Around the Lesmos and Piastri goes around the outside of Leclerc to reclaim third.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Alonso, Bortoleto, Hamilton, Tsunoda and Antonelli. However, as they cross the line Verstappen is told to hand the position back to Norris, which he does.
As Norris and Verstappen battle, Leclerc passes Piastri again as the exit the chicane, while Bortoleto is all over Russell.
At the start of Lap 4, Verstappen passes Norris under braking for the first corner. Hamilton is all over Alonso.
As expected it is fast and furious with battles throughout the field.
At the start of Lap 6 Piastri squeezes through on the inside of Leclerc at the first chicane, with Russell looking to take advantage of any mistakes.
Hamilton passes Bortoleto for sixth as he shakes off Alonso.
Russell makes a move on Leclerc but is unable to make it stick as Antonelli is all over Tsunoda.
Ocon has a 5s penalty for forcing another driver (Stroll) off track.
Lawson pits at the end of Lap 9 to get rid of his softs.
Lap 10 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (23.088) as he builds a 3.2s lead. This was not expected.
Behind Tsunoda there is a DRS train of six cars, though his 'train' is closing on that headed by Bortoleto.
4.007s down on race leader Verstappen, Norris is 5.5s clear of his McLaren teammate.
"This is good. Nice and clean," Leclerc is told.
Lap 16 sees another fastest lap from Verstappen (23.001), he subsequently posts a 22.890.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza here.
Antonelli passes Tsunoda for ninth as Sainz is noted for missing the second chicane.
The Spaniard is currently twelfth, just ahead of his teammate.
Bearman pits at the end of Lap 18, rejoining in 19th on hards.
"This is solid Max, keep building the advantage. You know how things can change."
At which point Tsunoda pits, appearing to catch his crew off guard. He rejoins just ahead of Bearman but the Haas driver subsequently passes him.
Bortoleto and Alonso both pit at the end of Lap 20, the Spaniard leapfrogging his protégé.
Adding to the Brazilian's misery he is passed by Lawson for sixteenth. Replay shows Alonso being very aggressive when entering the pitlane.
Against all expectations, after 23 laps Verstappen leads by 6.2s.
"In Turn 4 keep the racing line," Sainz is told, but he doesn't agree.
Alonso has slowed and appears to have an issue. He pits with what appears to be a suspension failure.
Sainz's mood doesn't improve when told to yield to his teammate.
"This is unbelievable," says Alonso as he climbs from his car, while countryman Sainz has been noted for failing to follow instructions in terms of the escape road.
"We're thinking Plan A plus 15, is that possible," Piastri is asked. He believes it is.
"My front tyres are dead in traffic," says Sainz.
Russell is the first of the big guns to pit, stopping for hards at the end of Lap 27.
He rejoins in 12th, behind Hadjar and ahead of Colapinto.
Norris also agrees with extending his opening stint, possibly that late that he can switch to softs.
As Antonelli pits Lawson and Tsunoda trip up over one another, the RB told to hand the position back to the Japanese driver. Antonelli rejoins in fourteenth, ahead of Bortoleto.
There is blistering to the right-front on Verstappen's car.
Piastri posts a new fastest lap but this is eclipsed by Russell (22.421).
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 30, rejoining in 16th.
Colapinto locks-up and misses the first chicane, the Argentine currently running in 12th.
Hadjar pits from tenth at the end of Lap 32.
Leclerc pits at the end of Lap 33 but has to brake hard as he enters the pitlane. He rejoins in sixth, behind Albon and ahead of Ocon. Colapinto also pits.
Down in ninth, Russell closes in on Stroll.
"If we are not under threat, why did we stop," asks Leclerc. "We can discuss later," he is told.
Russell passes Stroll for eighth and sets about claiming seventh from Ocon.
Asked his thoughts on the soft, Norris replies: "The opposite of the car ahead".
Sainz, who has been given a reprimand for his escape road misdemeanour, closes on Bearman.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 37, rejoining in third on hards. Norris leads Piastri by 5.8s.
"The battery today is a joke," reports Sainz.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 38, rejoining in ninth.
Antonelli and Gasly are battling for tenth, the Italian finally passing the Alpine.
On fresh rubber Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (21.402).
"Great job on the stop guys," says Hamilton, "sorry I was long."
As Bearman and Sainz battle they touch and spin at the second chicane. "He turned into me like I wasn't there," says Bearman. The incident has been noted.
Hamilton passes Stroll for eighth as Bortoleto claims 11th from Gasly.
Albon pits, subsequently rejoining in tenth.
After 42 laps all bar the McLarens, Ocon, Stroll and Gasly have stopped.
A new fastest lap from Verstappen (21.320) as he closes to within 7.8s of Piastri who is 3.6s down on Norris.
Albon passes Antonelli for ninth in the first chicane, both drivers very much elbows out as the Italian appears to force the Williams off.
Norris agrees that barring there is no undercut Piastri can pit first. The Australian pits, rejoining in third on softs.
Next time around Norris pits, as Bearman is given a 10s penalty for causing a collision.
It's a poor stop for Norris - an issue with the front-left wheel-gun - and while the team was looking to get its drivers to swap positions this does not now appear to be the case.
"You've done all the hard work, so let's just bring it home," Verstappen is told.
A new fastest lap from Piastri (21.245) as McLaren ponders what to do.
"Let Lando past and then you are free to race," the Australian is told. He's not happy about it, but duly obliges.
A late stop for Ocon at the end of Lap 51.
The penultimate lap sees another fastest lap from Verstappen (21.003) as he enjoys a 19.3s lead.
Antonelli is given a 5s penalty for driving erratically.
Verstappen takes the flag, ahead of Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Albon, Bortoleto, Antonelli and Hadjar.
Sainz is eleventh, ahead of Bearman, Tsunoda, Lawson, Ocon, Gasly, Colapinto and Stroll.
The final lap saw Norris post a new fastest lap (20.901). "Apologies about the stop," the Briton is told. He doesn't respond.
"Appreciate that was pretty painful," Piastri is told, "but we've done the right thing. We can talk about it after, we finished P3." "I've calmed down a bit," he replies.
"Difficult start," admits Piastri, "maybe not my best couple of laps.
"Once I got past, it was a pretty lonely race from there. I'm happy with the points, I'll take it.
"We were staying out for Safety Cars if there were any," he adds, "but Max got back into our pit window and the little incident at the end but it is okay.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza here.
"Plenty to learn, happy going forwards and we'll try and be better next weekend."
"I tried to keep it even on the braking into Turn 1," says Norris, "I always know it is going to be a good fight with Max and it was.
"It was one of those weekends where we are a bit slower but a good fight and I enjoyed it.
"No idea," he replies when asked about the pit stop, "but I guess every now and then we make mistakes as a team, and today was one of them.
"I did everything I could today, I couldn't do a lot more. I tried to fight with Max but he came out on top and deserved it."
"A great day for us," grins Verstappen. "Lap 1 was a bit unlucky but after that we were flying.
"The car was really enjoyable, I could manage the pace and we pitted at the right time. Just fantastic execution by everyone.
"Step by step, race by race, but this was for us an unbelievable weekend."
"Mate, he was so quick on the straights and so slow on the corners," Piastri tells Norris in the cool down as they watch Leclerc.
"Did you see (Sainz and Bearman) on the big screen, when they spun at Turn 4" asks Piastri. "Yeah, and I was like no, come on," laughs Verstappen, clearly having been concerned about the possibility of a Safety Car.
"Get in the gravel, get in the gravel," shouts Norris at the screen.
Well, let's be honest, nobody expected that, probably not even Max himself. But make no mistake, that wasn't down to luck, but sheer determination and skill, not to mention great teamwork.
Of course, other that causing further delays to Russell's contract negotiations today is likely to give McLaren some sleepless nights.
As we have been told all weekend, Monza is rich in history, and your editor is extremely familiar with it.
From the moment you enter the circuit you are aware of it, it is all around you, you can almost feel the presence of the lege3nds that have raced here.
Somehow, we think they will have looked down favourably on young Max today. This result was not in the script.