Doha: Dutch driver Max Verstappen, reigning world champion and Red Bull star, won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, the 16th round of the F1 World Championship, held at Monza.
According to Qatar News Agency, Verstappen outpaced McLaren's duo, Britain's Lando Norris and Australia's Oscar Piastri, to secure only his third victory of the season. The four-time defending world champion started from pole position, which he clinched on Saturday with the fastest lap time in the history of the championship. He held the lead from start to finish, except for a brief moment when he was instructed to let Norris pass after running off track. However, Verstappen quickly regained his position and went on to claim the 66th win of his career.
He crossed the finish line nearly 20 seconds ahead of the McLaren drivers. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and sixth, respectively, with Britain's George Russell of Mercedes taking fifth. With this victory, Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since round seven, when he won Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. However, the result did little to change the overall standings, with Piastri still leading the championship on 324 points, followed by teammate Norris on 293, and Verstappen on 230.
In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren extended its dominance, boosting its tally from 584 to 617 points thanks to the second and third places in Monza. The team holds a significant lead over Ferrari (280 points), Mercedes (260), and Red Bull (239).