Verstappen Calls Monza Win ‘Better Than Expected’ After Commanding Drive

Dominika Jordan
Sep 7, 2025, 02:55 PM ET

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Max Verstappen Returns to the Top Step at the F1 Italian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen returned to the top step in style at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, labeling his Monza performance “better than expected” after a dominant run that restored momentum to Red Bull’s season. This F1 Italian Grand Prix race report underscores how Verstappen’s pace and strategy underpinned a statement victory for Red Bull Racing.

Starting from pole, Verstappen briefly ceded the lead on Lap 2 to Lando Norris after cutting the first chicane and handing back the position to avoid a penalty. He reclaimed P1 on Lap 4 and never looked threatened, pulling clear to win by 19 seconds as McLaren’s drivers became mired in team orders. The result was Verstappen’s third victory at Monza and the first pole-to-flag triumph at the Temple of Speed since Charles Leclerc in 2019. The Dutchman also set a new lap record in qualifying on Formula 1’s fastest circuit, adding another milestone to this Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Verstappen on His Victory

When asked how sweet the victory was, Verstappen said: "A bit better than expected. "But once I got back in the lead, I just tried to focus on my own pace and it kept on going, going well. I would say only the last maybe six to eight laps of that stint I started to struggle a little bit on the medium [tire]. But up until that point, yeah, it was nice for once."

He added: "The car was doing a little bit more what I liked. It just seems like this weekend has been another step forward with the behavior of the car and that also then shows in the race, I think. So that was a big positive for us. "Then, of course, we did a bit more of a normal strategy, you know, medium to hard. Of course, McLaren stayed out to try and gamble for the safety car, and I think that's why the gap is a little bit bigger than it should have been. But still for us, an incredible weekend."

Race Analysis and Strategy

Verstappen’s afternoon had all the hallmarks of his peak form: an early reset after the Lap 2 incident, measured tire management, and metronomic race pace once back in clean air. With Red Bull opting for a conventional one-stop strategy (medium to hard), the McLarens extended their first stint to keep a safety car window open, but it never materialized, helping inflate the final margin. For fans seeking F1 strategy analysis from the Italian Grand Prix, the result highlighted how track position and tire management at low-downforce Monza can dictate race outcomes.

Context and Significance

The win arrives against a turbulent backdrop for Red Bull. Verstappen entered Monza 70 points behind championship leader Norris and with only two victories to his name this season. The team has also navigated leadership upheaval, with longtime principal Christian Horner departing in July and Laurent Mekies stepping in during the summer. This context adds weight to the Red Bull Racing resurgence narrative in the F1 championship battle.

Even so, Verstappen said the RB car felt fundamentally improved. "Before it felt like you were a passenger in the car. We had some races where it was just not balanced. And now, finally, there was more balance in the car and then the tires also behave a little bit more normal."

He cautioned against declaring a full revival. "I think it's still a bit track dependent. Here you drive low downforce. It always seems like our car is a little bit more competitive when it's low- to medium-downforce. So it's not like suddenly now we are back. It's not like we can fight, I think, every single weekend. But the positive is that we seem to understand a little bit more what we need to do with the car to be more competitive. "So I hope that that carries on into the coming rounds as well, and some tracks will be a bit better than others."

Championship Implications

With eight races remaining, Verstappen’s victory trims his deficit to Norris to 63 points. Formula 1 resumes in two weeks in Baku, where Red Bull will seek to prove Monza’s step forward can translate beyond the low-downforce demands of Italy’s high-speed classic. For more F1 news, race results, and Italian Grand Prix analysis, this Monza race report sets the stage for a pivotal run-in to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit.