P1racenews AI automatic summary:
At Monza, Max Verstappen and Red Bull brushed aside a McLaren team that’s otherwise dominated F1 in 2025. Mark Hughes explains what was behind an outcome that surprised everyone – those two teams included
The bigger story was Max Verstappen and Red Bull being faster than McLaren over a full F1 race distance at the Italian GP, overshadowing McLaren asking Oscar Piastri to give up second place to Lando Norris after a pit stop delay. Piastri complied, although he didn’t agree with it, maintaining a significant gap behind Verstappen. This incident highlighted Verstappen’s 31-point lead in the championship and the possibility of a future margin change. Red Bull’s genuine speed advantage over McLaren was attributed to aero-efficiency and tire factors at Monza. Red Bull optimized a Monza wing this year, different from last year’s struggles, which enhanced their car’s balance and responsiveness, leading to their success at the Italian Grand Prix.
