Max Verstappen Ends Monza drought with Victory Over McLaren Duo
MONZA,Italy – Max Verstappen broke his Italian Grand Prix losing streak,winning Sunday’s race at monza ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The victory marks Verstappen’s eighth of the season and third at the historic circuit, solidifying his championship lead amidst fervent Ferrari support.
Verstappen’s win comes after a contentious start and strategic pit stop battles, highlighting the intensifying competition within Formula 1. The result substantially impacts the drivers’ championship standings, further distancing Verstappen from his rivals, while McLaren’s strong showing demonstrates their continued progress as a front-running team. The race also saw early retirement for Nico Hülkenberg due to a hydraulic failure and a controversial pit stop for Lando Norris that ceded position to teammate oscar Piastri.
Hülkenberg’s race ended before it began, forced into the garage with an irreparable hydraulic defect after the formation lap.”Oh man, you’re serious one!” the driver expressed over the radio, having qualified 12th with aspirations for a top-ten finish.
The start saw a hard-fought defense from Verstappen, who secured pole position with a course record.He initially pushed Norris onto the grass while defending, then appeared to cut the chicane. “What does this idiot do?” Norris exclaimed on the radio, accusing Verstappen of unfair tactics. Despite team orders to yield, Verstappen briefly relinquished the lead only to regain it with a late braking maneuver.Behind the leaders, Charles Leclerc battled Oscar Piastri for position, with the McLaren driver ultimately prevailing.
Mid-race, Verstappen maintained a cozy lead over Norris, Piastri, and Leclerc on the high-speed Monza circuit. The strategic phase of the race began with Verstappen pitting in the 38th lap, emerging in third position and quickly setting a series of fast laps on fresh hard tires.
A slow 5.9-second pit stop for Norris proved crucial, dropping him behind Piastri. The team instructed Norris to allow Piastri to pass, a request the british driver reluctantly obeyed. ”The pit stop is a normal part of the race?” Piastri questioned, before yielding to his teammate. Verstappen ultimately secured the victory, completing the race in first place, followed by Norris and Piastri. This marks Verstappen’s third win of the season in the 16th race.
