The Formula One Italian Grand Prix takes place yearly at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, colloquially known as the Temple of Speed. The track, which is the oldest in Formula One, provides a particularly passionate crowd and a unique layout sure to bring surprises.
This year’s Italian Grand Prix was recorded as both the fastest Italian Grand Prix and Formula One race in history, and it also saw a record attendance of 369,041. The race brought a tense showdown in the final third of the racing season. The excitement was spearheaded by four-time Drivers’ Champion and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who earned his first win since May. Verstappen currently holds third place in the drivers’ standings behind the two McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Verstappen made history with his qualifying lap time of 1:18.792, beating the all-time record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2020, before winning the race outright the next day.
Both McLaren drivers placed on the podium, with Norris in second and Piastri in third. Despite a double podium performance, the dominant season for the McLaren team has become complicated by their two drivers competing for the Drivers’ Championship.
Piastri overtook Norris due to a slow pit stop but was then told to concede his position to his teammate. Norris’s prolonged pit stop was the reason for the call, and with Piastri narrowly ahead in the drivers’ standings, the team was inclined to even the playing field. The competition between the two teammates is a rare complication that continues to evolve. A future win for Red Bull and Verstappen will put the pressure on McLaren as Norris and Piastri struggle to battle consistently for the Drivers’ Championship.
Verstappen’s Red Bull RB21 car showed a true race pace advantage in Monza over the previously dominant McLarens, and his near-perfect drive guaranteed a win. The four-time World Drivers Champion has been largely absent from first-place contention this year — a stark contrast to his 2023 season when he won 19 of 22 races. With just three wins this season, the lead Red Bull driver still manages to hold onto third place in the standings due to seven podium finishes.
Verstappen did not let these numbers hold him back. Numerous upgrades and changes to the RB21’s aerodynamics propelled the driver to finish 19 seconds ahead of second-place Norris. The skinny rear wing and relatively large front wing produced specifically for Monza were exactly what Verstappen needed. The conditions were set to Red Bull’s advantage, but it is unclear if the team will be able to capitalize on the upgrades for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
McLaren’s lack of contention against Red Bull’s Verstappen was overshadowed by the complicated and fragile relationship between the two competing McLaren drivers, Morris and Piastri. The tension has been building since a collision between the two teammates at the Canadian Grand Prix in June. The late McLaren collision occurred when Norris attempted a pass on teammate Piastri. Norris didn’t finish the race due to the damage, and Piastri placed outside of the top three. The clash cost McLaren valuable points, though their overall dominance since has kept them well ahead in the standings.
Formula One’s unique individual and team components make competition between teammates particularly risky. The McLaren team needs both drivers to do well to win the Constructors’ Championship, but the close race for the individual Drivers’ Championship puts this team dynamic at risk. McLaren has allowed for an inconsistent mix of team orders, such as the swap in Monza, and competition following the Canadian Grand Prix, which has led to allegations of favoritism. Now, most of the tension lies between Norris and Piastri’s individual performances. Norris will continue to battle his younger opponent for the first-place title with only eight races remaning in the season (as of 9/16).
