F1 Italian GP: Max Verstappen Dominates Amidst McLaren Team Order Controversy

Why it matters

Max Verstappen once again demonstrated his dominance at the Italian Grand Prix, securing a commanding win. However, the race was overshadowed by a controversial team order decision from McLaren, which saw Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri swap positions, affecting the final podium.

The race unfolded

• Verstappen's Early Battle & Takeover: Polesitter Max Verstappen initially fought with Lando Norris, who briefly led after a Turn 1 incident. Verstappen then ceded the lead before quickly reclaiming it on lap four and building a significant gap.
• McLaren's Pitstop Drama: McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ran long on medium tires. Norris initially yielded his pitstop queue position to Piastri. However, a slow stop for Norris prompted McLaren to reverse the positions, instructing Piastri to let Norris pass, referencing last year's Budapest race.
• Strategic Decisions: Verstappen made his sole stop for hard tires on lap 37, extending his lead. McLaren's strategy to go long, hoping for a safety car to benefit from soft tires, did not materialize, leading to the contentious team order.
• Podium Finish: Verstappen finished 19.2 seconds ahead of Norris. Norris and Piastri completed the podium, flanking Verstappen after their controversial position swap. Charles Leclerc secured fourth, converting his grid position.
• Other Notables: George Russell finished fifth, while Lewis Hamilton recovered to sixth despite a grid penalty. Alex Albon took seventh, with Gabriel Bortoleto moving to eighth after Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a penalty. Isack Hadjar rounded out the top 10, ahead of Carlos Sainz, who had an early collision.