UPDATED GFT AI F1 DRIVER RANKINGS: Max Storms Back with Record-Breaking Win at Monza, Piastri maintains P1 ranking

10 September 2025 By Bob Francis, Managing Editor Go Full Throttle Racing News

Parco di Monza, Italy — Autodromo Nazionale Monza, also known as “the Temple of Speed” due to its historic layout featuring long straights and fast, flowing corners that enable cars to achieve exceptionally high average speeds — often the highest on the F1 calendar. In fact, the current F1 World Champion- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) set a number of records over the Italian GP race weekend:

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (Image Credit: Mark Thompson — Getty Images)

RACE RESULTS: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025

Updated: GFT AI F1 Driver Rankings

Monza Magic: Verstappen’s Record-Shattering Sprint at the Temple of Speed

If the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is the Temple of Speed, then Sunday’s 2025 Italian Grand Prix was a full-on revival meeting. It was a blistering, record-breaking barnburner that left the Tifosi roaring and the rest of the grid eating exhaust.

Verstappen, starting from pole after that mind-melting qualifying lap — the fastest in F1 history at a blistering 265.6 km/h average — launched like a missile. Lando Norris wasn’t about to let Verstappen go unchallenged. The two tangled at Turn 1, with Max skipping the chicane and shoving Norris onto the grass. “What’s this idiot doing?” crackled Norris over the radio, his McLaren twitching. Verstappen handed back the lead to dodge a penalty, but by Lap 4, he was back on top, slicing outside at the first chicane.

The midfield was a demolition derby — Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin grenading its suspension at Ascari after kerb-kissing gone wrong, retiring with a forlorn “This is unbelievable.” Collisions galore: Bearman and Sainz tangoing disastrously at Roggia, Lawson and Tsunoda swapping paint. Esteban Ocon copped a five-second slap for squeezing Stroll wide, and young Kimi Antonelli drew ire for erratic wheel work, dropping him a spot. Nico Hulkenberg didn’t even make the grid, hydraulics betraying Haas before the fun began. Weather? Picture-perfect Italian sunshine — no rain to spoil the party, just Pirelli mediums and hards duking it out in a one-stop symphony.

Strategy-wise, it was a chess match. Verstappen pitted early on Lap 37 for hards, building a gap wider than the Adriatic. McLaren played the long game, delaying stops to chase the undercut, but their pit crew fumbled Norris’ Lap 46 stop. Oscar Piastri nipped into second briefly, only for team orders to swap ’em back — echoing last year’s Hungarian drama. “Let him through, Lando,” came the call, and Piastri obliged, though you could hear the frustration in his voice. Post-swap, they were unleashed, but Max’s pace was untouchable. The result? The quickest full-distance F1 race ever — 1:13:24 for 53 laps, shaving nearly a minute off the old mark. Verstappen’s 45th pole also etched Red Bull’s record books.

Crossing the line: Max first, 19.2 seconds clear; Norris second, Piastri third for McLaren’s papaya podium lockout. Charles Leclerc salvaged fourth for Ferrari’s heartbroken fans — no home glory again. George Russell fifth, Lewis Hamilton sixth after clawing from a penalty. Alex Albon’s Williams grit nabbed seventh, with rookies Gabriel Bortoleto, Antonelli, and Isack Hadjar (from pit lane!) rounding out the points. Mercedes and Williams showed fight, but Aston and Alpine limped home in the gravel.

Verstappen’s post-race grin said it all: “We had the pace today — Monza suits us.” Norris, gracious in defeat, quipped, “Max drove like a demon; we’ll get him next time.”