Nothing could deter the Dutch this season. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, faced a Monza weekend that kept him on the podium but tested his patience. The atmosphere around Italy’s premier race was electric, charged by Ferrari’s home crowd and the high stakes of the 75th anniversary celebrations for the Prancing Horse. Verstappen lined up from seventh on the grid, trailing Charles Leclerc of Ferrari who, for the fans, could not deliver a race win on this special occasion.
Ferrari’s supporters watched Leclerc settle for runner-up and a fourth place finish, while Spaniard Carlos Sainz—who started from 18th—put on a memorable drive. His recovery mirrored a career benchmark, equaling Finland’s Kimi Räikkönen with 349 top-tier starts. Fernando Alonso pushed hard for points but had to concede ground late in the race.
[Calendar coverage: World F1 schedule]
Verstappen had already secured eleven podiums, including five straight wins. With the season humming forward, the Dutch driver and his team looked to extend their supremacy and inch closer to matching the sport’s all-time title milestones—Germany’s Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have led with 13 world titles. The path to Verstappen’s second championship could unfold at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for October 2.
two parallel returns
Across the grid, most drivers chose a medium compound as their first strategy. Leclerc, Britain’s George Russell (Mercedes), Verstappen with a cautious setup, Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Nyck de Vries (Williams), and Alexander Albon—who climbed to ninth in a taut debut race under pressure—were among those paddling through the early stages with medium tires.
Leclerc managed to hold the lead briefly against Russell, who pressed hard. Norris advanced to third before slipping to a tougher position; Verstappen began a dramatic comeback, echoing Sainz’s late surge as the race unfolded.
[Overall World Championship standings: F1 World Championship table]
Red Bull, the championship leaders, watched as French driver Pierre Gasly’s forces kicked into gear early on. Gasly had already moved up two rows and, shortly after, was briefly challenging for the top spots. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo tracked closely, while Russell remained a constant threat in fifth. Leclerc stayed in close contact, but the gap had a definite evaporating effect as Sainz found his rhythm in the cockpit. By the end, Sainz had climbed ten places to finish in the points, turning a difficult Saturday into a fighting Sunday performance.
The Dutchman’s teammate, Sergio “Checo” Pérez, faced hurdles in the opening half of the race. An early retirement by the Mexican was avoided only after significant repairs and a cautious drive that left him in eighth place. The day also saw Vettel forced to retire, marking a difficult moment for the German driver and a reminder of the brutal realities of a long F1 season.