Max Verstappen reminded the Formula 1 world of his brilliance with a commanding victory at the Italian Grand Prix, but it was McLaren’s team orders saga that sparked the biggest talking point. The Dutchman’s dominance set records, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s late-race shuffle raised questions about title politics.
The start was frantic. Norris and Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel down Monza’s iconic straight, with the McLaren driver briefly forcing the Red Bull onto the escape road. Race control demanded fairness, so Verstappen handed the lead back on lap two before reclaiming it with ruthless precision just two laps later.
From there, the race became a statement of control. Verstappen stretched the gap with relentless pace, his Red Bull team urging him to avoid risks. By the flag, he was nearly 19 seconds clear, securing his third win of the season in what became the fastest race in Formula 1 history.
Behind him, McLaren’s afternoon unravelled in unusual fashion. Norris, running comfortably in second, lost vital time in a sluggish pit stop. That allowed Piastri to jump his teammate and take P2 on track, sparking heated radio calls. Team orders soon followed, and Piastri reluctantly moved aside, restoring Norris to second.
It was a costly yet telling moment in McLaren’s season. Norris trimmed his deficit in the standings to 31 points, but the swap reopened debates over fairness and whether such interventions could decide the championship. Even Verstappen, listening in from the cockpit, chuckled when told of the switch.
Ferrari, roared on by the passionate tifosi, had little to celebrate. Charles Leclerc fought hard in the opening laps but faded to fourth, leaving home fans deflated. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton followed for Mercedes, while Alex Albon once again proved Williams’ progress with a superb seventh.
Further back, Monza produced its usual dose of midfield chaos. Isack Hadjar rose from the pit lane to claim the final point in tenth, while Aston Martin endured a nightmare with Fernando Alonso’s suspension failure and Lance Stroll’s late slump.
For Verstappen, though, the day carried a sense of ease. His victory echoed the dominance of 2023, combining ruthless speed with cool control.
