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Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio D'Italia 2024 Race Start, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Italian GP Preview, Italian Grand Prix Preview, F1 Italian GP Preview, Formula 1 Monza Preview, Ferrari Monza 2025 Livery.
2025 Italian GP Preview – After Oscar Piastri claimed victory on reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s home tarmac at Zandvoort and extended his championship points lead to 34 over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris who suffered a heartbreaking engine failure, round 16 of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championships heads from a sea of orange to red as the F1 circus returns to the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy for the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio D’Italia 2025, the second home Grand Prix for Ferrari where the “Tifosi” will be in their droves. This will be the 95th Italian Grand Prix since 1921 and the 91st time that the event will be held at Monza.
2025 Italian GP Preview – A look at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Built in the Royal Villa of Monza Park in its woodland setting, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a permanent racing circuit located near the city of Monza, North Milan in Italy. The circuit has played host to the Italian Grand Prix since the sport of Formula 1 began in 1950 with the exception of 1980 where the race was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) in San Marino while the Monza circuit underwent refurbishment. The site has three tracks including the Grand Prix circuit, the 2.405km (1.494 mile) short circuit and a 4.250km (2.641 mile) high speed oval with steep banking which has been unused for many decades. The main features of the Grand Prix circuit include the Curva Grande, the Lesmos, Variante Ascari and Parabolica.
The first track was built from May 15 to July 1922 and financed by the Milan Automobile Club. The original circuit was 10km (6.25 miles) long with a flat banked oval section and a road circuit all combined into one. Since then, it has continuously undergone many modifications and changes due to driver and spectator safety reasons.
The 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid engines displayed speeds of up to 360 kph (223 mph) in 2016. The circuit is mostly flat but has a gradual gradient from the second Lesmo up to the Variante Ascari. Due to low aerodynamic profile needed, with its resulting low downforce, the grip is very low, and understeer is a more serious issue than at other circuits on the calendar. However, oversteer is also present in the second sector, requiring use of a very distinctive opposite lock technique. Since both maximum power and minimal drag are key for speed on the long straights, only drivers with enough power or aerodynamic efficiency are able to challenge for the top positions. The drivers are full throttle for nearly 80% of the lap due to its long straights and fast corners.
The modern Grand Prix layout is 5.793km (3.900 miles) in length with 11 corners and runs in a clockwise direction.
Race distance is 306.720km (190.597 miles) in length with 53 laps in total.
Rubens Barrichello holds the fastest lap record with a 1:21.046 set at the 2004 event in his Scuderia Ferrari F2004.
Michael Schumacher and Sir Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most victories at the Italian Grand Prix with five to their respective names.
Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor at its home Grand Prix with 21 victories.
2025 Italian GP Preview – Onboard Pole Position Lap of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Here is the onboard pole position lap of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from last year’s event, set by Lando Norris in his McLaren Formula 1 Team-Mercedes MCL39 racer. The Briton posted a 1:19.327. You can watch the footage right here at the link: Lando Norris’ Pole Lap | 2024 Italian Grand Prix | Pirelli
2025 Italian GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2024: Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari. 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren-Mercedes. 2020: Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri-Honda.
2025 Italian GP Preview – Tyres
With the Autodromo Nazionale Monza featuring some of the F1 calendar’s fastest straights and the teams running a low downforce/drag setup, F1’s sole tyre supplier Pirelli will be bringing with them the softest compounds in its range. The white-branded P Zero C3 Hards, the yellow-marked P Zero C4 Mediums and the red side-walled P Zero C5 Soft tyre compounds along with the green-marked Intermediates and blue-branded Full Wet compounds in case of rain.
With high energy loads up to 4.5g and all forces at work encouraging heat build-up through the tyres and big impacts with the kerbs, the tyre compound and structure is tested to its limits throughout the lap and is more demanding than a slow circuit. With a low downforce setup used at Monza, the drivers need to take care of the rear tyres, so they don’t provoke wheelspin especially out of the Variante del Rettifilo and Variante della Roggia chicanes.
All drivers will have four sets of the C5 red side-walled Softs, four sets of the yellow C4 Mediums and three sets of the white C3 Hard rubber as Pirelli brings in the “Alternative Tyre Allocation” for the second time this season.
2025 Italian GP Preview – DRS Zones
As in 2024, there will be two DRS zones at Monza. The first zone detection point is 95 metres before turn seven with the activation point 210 metres after turn seven. The second zone detection point will be 20 metres before turn 11 with the activation point 115 metres after the finish line.
2025 Italian GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Piastri scores crucial victory at dramatic Dutch GP as title rival Norris retires
Piastri Dutch GP Victory – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri converted pole position to victory in a dramatic Dutch GP at Zandvoort ahead of home favourite Max Verstappen who came second for Red Bull as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completed the top three. Championship contender Lando Norris retired from second due to an engine failure on lap 65.
This was Piastri’s ninth-career victory as he extends his championship lead over team-mate Norris to 34 points as Formula 1 heads straight to Monza next weekend at Ferrari’s second and final home Grand Prix of the year after a race to forget in the Netherlands with a double DNF for both Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
When the 72-lap Dutch GP began, pole-sitter Piastri got an equal start off the line to team-mate Norris as they approached Tarzan, but the former managed to keep the lead whilst Verstappen ran around the outside into turn one to provisionally hold second but lost it to Norris as they ran down to turn three.
As they reached turn three, Verstappen on the softs managed to take Norris after running a lower line and dipping into the grass and moved up into second place.
At the beginning of the second tour, Piastri held a 1.2 second lead over Verstappen with Norris third, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar fourth, Leclerc fifth, Mercedes’ George Russell sixth, Hamilton seventh, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson eighth as the two Williams of Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon rounded out the top ten.
On the third tour, Hadjar was being the cork in the bottle as the top three were moving away from the Frenchman and had a DRS train forming behind him whilst Piastri held a 1.5 second lead out-front.
Race leader Piastri was told that the rain was on it’s way on the fourth lap.
Lap five saw Piastri’s lead increase to 2.1 seconds over Verstappen with Norris third, Hadjar fourth, Leclerc fifth, Russell sixth, Hamilton seventh, Lawson eighth as Sainz and Albon completed the top ten runners.
On lap six – with rain on the way, Piastri was trying to build a gap here, the Australian was suddenly 2.8 seconds ahead as he took six tenths out of Verstappen last time around. Norris is a further 1.5 seconds back.
On the seventh tour, there were more problems for Stroll at Zandvoort – he suffered a tangle with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, and it looked like the Brazilian lost a part of his endplate. That incident was noted by the stewards.
Lap eight saw Piastri flying here with the rain on the way. He was now 3.7 seconds clear of the Red Bull, but Norris has closed up and had DRS on the Dutchman.
Further back, Hadjar was holding firm with Leclerc all over his rear wing. Russell was slightly further back, ahead of his former team-mate Hamilton.
On lap nine – Norris was closing, closing and he got past Verstappen into Tarzan. He hung out around the outside; it was a brave move but a necessary one. He was 4.5 seconds behind his team-mate.
Further down the order – Stroll out on a fresh set of hards.
On the tenth tour, Norris had been given some encouragement to go and get after his team-mate Piastri.
Lap 11- Lawson, Sainz and Albon were all in the points here at this stage of proceedings, with Tsunoda just outside in P11. All 20 cars are still running, and only Stroll had pitted – for C2 harder tyres.
There was no further action needed between the Canadian and Bortoleto, who was still nursing that broken front wing aboard his Sauber.
On the 12th tour – Norris took half-a-second out of his team-mate Piastri out-front. The Briton already more than dropped Verstappen, who was 3.5 seconds back and nursing those C4 softer compounds.
Lap 13 – race control reported that the track surface was slippery at turn 15.
On lap 15 – race leader Piastri’s lead over team-mate Norris was down to 3.276 seconds as Verstappen held third, Hadjar fourth, Leclerc fifth, Russell sixth, Hamilton seventh, Lawson eighth, Sainz ninth and Albon rounded out the top ten runners.
On the 16th tour – the track looked dry. The cars were all circulating, as Alpine ordered their A525 entries to switch positions, that’s because Franco Colapinto’s softer compounds have had their day.
Lap 18 saw Bortoleto under investigation by the race stewards for his Sauber running in an unsafe condition – upfront – Piastri lead from Norris and Verstappen – who was already almost 13 seconds off the lead. Hadjar was holding onto fourth really well at this stage, in-front of Leclerc and Russell.
Lap 19 saw Alonso the second to pit for a set of hards and came out at the rear.
On the 20th lap, Piastri’s lead over Norris was at 3.263 seconds with Verstappen third, Hadjar fourth as Leclerc completed the top five.
The ponchos were going on, umbrellas going up – Norris had reported to his race engineer Will Joseph to say his tyres were only just hanging in there, as there was a hive of activity in the pit lane.
Tsunoda, Colapinto and Hulkenberg were all in – all for C2 harder tyres and reacted to Alonso.
Lap 21 – The rain was not heavy enough for the green-branded intermediates – but anyone who did not have warm tyres might struggle here.
Norris was given the hurry up to chase down McLaren team-mate Piastri, the gap having stabilised at 3.3 seconds.
On the 23rd tour – Leclerc pitted from fifth for a set of hard and emerged in ninth as his Ferrari team-mate suffered a crash bringing out the safety car.
The two leading McLaren’s of Piastri and Norris pitted for a set of hards as Verstappen came in for mediums, Hadjar, Russell and the majority all pitted for their fresh sets of the harder tyres.
Replays showed Hamilton suffered a snap of oversteer into turn three with his SF-25 snapping as he ran high into the banked corner dipping a wheel over the slippery green Aramco painted track and white lines and went straight into the wall damaging the right wide of his car.
When the safety car came in on lap 26, for the race to resume on lap 27 – Piastri leaped away and did not to go too slowly after his Silverstone mistake. But there was contact between Lawson and Sainz – they had a tangle together on the exit of Tarzan and both were dropping like a stone.
Verstappen was running the C3’s, Norris and Piastri the hards – this is an advantage to the Dutchman, as the drizzle continued to fall. Greasy conditions, this could be a crucial few tours.
On the 29th tour – Sainz pitted for a new front wing, Lawson for more tyres as suffered a puncture. Replays showed Sainz was trying to overtake on the outside, and Lawson moved across. They both ended up with punctures, as Sainz makes his feelings clear on the Kiwi:
“He is so stupid.”
Lap 30 – Piastri’s lead was down to 2.1 seconds over Norris with Verstappen holding third, Hadjar fourth, Russell fifth, Leclerc sixth, Albon seventh, Antonelli eighth, Stroll ninth and Ocon rounded out the top ten runners.
Russell did have a look at Hadjar into turn nine, but the rookie covered him off as Russell reported: “Moving under braking”.
The virtual safety car was deployed due to debris on the track due to a piece of Sainz’s Williams.
On the 32nd tour – the VSC was ending after marshal cleared that debris. Norris had been told the plan was to go to the end on the harder rubber.
Further back, Leclerc muscled his way past Russell, and jumped into fifth. What a move, Russell fought hard and the Ferrari driver even dipped a wheel in the gravel, but Leclerc was having none of it this time.
On lap 34 – Sainz was hit with a 10 second timed penalty for causing a collision with Lawson – as Leclerc and Russell’s incident was noted by the race stewards.
Lap 35 – Piastri’s lead was at 1.5 seconds from Norris, and with both are trying to go to the end. The drizzle had stopped; Verstappen was third and then followed Hadjar in fourth. Verstappen was on the C3, so the four-time world champion might not make the end here and would need to stop again.
On the 36th tour – Norris was told over the radio that there was nothing really to be done on strategy today, and his best chance of a victory was to chase his team-mate down and overtake him. Except he had no tyre delta on Piastri and will be in the dirty air. But the Briton would have DRS.
Lap 38 – the threat of rain was still around with the dark clouds about – on Alonso’s situation the Spaniard said: “I don’t ***** know,” when asked about the balance of his AMR25 entry. The two-time world champion sounding frustrated out there – running in 13th at this stage.
“Let’s undercut these people or do something,” Alonso continued. A bad start had marred the Aston Martin driver’s race.
Lap 40 – Piastri lead over team-mate Norris was down to 1.4 seconds. Norris had been rapid here all weekend and cannot be counted out just yet. The duo looked set to fight it out until the end.
Verstappen was trying to keep up with them, but on those C3 mediums which might struggle near the end, it looks unlikely to become a three-way battle for the win.
On the 41st tour – Russell was told to let team-mate Antonelli through for sixth – and the Briton sounded surprised. They saw Russell was carrying damage from that incident with Leclerc. But Antonelli was hardly right behind his team-mate.
Lap 45 – second-placed Norris brought the gap down to 1.2 seconds on race leading team-mate Piastri, Verstappen was a distant third, Hadjar fourth, Leclerc fifth, Antonelli sixth, Russell seventh, Albon eighth, Stroll ninth as Ocon completed the top ten.
On lap 47 – Sainz was told about his 10-second penalty to which he responded angrily: “Who? Who gets a penalty? ME? You are joking. You are joking. It is the most ridiculous decision of my life.”
On lap 50 – Piastri’s gap over team-mate Norris increased to 1.5 seconds as Verstappen was a further 10 seconds back in third, Hadjar fourth, Leclerc fifth, Antonelli sixth, Russell seventh, Albon eighth, Stroll ninth whilst Ocon completed the top ten runners.
Hamilton said on his crash: “I’m really not sure, as I went up the bank the rear snapped out and I couldn’t recover. It was a bit twitchy the car but my pace looked decent and I was catching George. Very unusual to not finish a race and go out so early. Definitely not great.”
With 20 laps remaining, Antonelli came in from sixth for a set of the softer compounds and emerged in eighth place behind Albon.
A tour later, Ferrari reacted with Leclerc to try and cover Antonelli – The Maranello marque put a set of the softer compounds on the SF-25 and came out just ahead of the Italian.
The duo collided out the exit of turn three as the Ferrari got hit by Antonelli and sent into a spin as Leclerc became the second retirement of the race.
Replays showed Antonelli took the lower line and made a move on the inside of the Ferrari which was on the high line into the third corner and the Mercedes understeered into the front right of Leclerc, clipping the SF-25 and sending it into a spin and hitting the wall with the front of his car and front wing destroyed.
The safety car was brought out again as Piastri and Norris pitted for another set of hards – Hadjar, Verstappen, Albon all came in also… Antonelli too after picking up a puncture.
Antonelli was given a ten-second-timed-penalty for his collision with Leclerc.
The top ten under the safety car on lap 57 was Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Albon, Antonelli, Gasly, Alonso, Bortoleto.
When the safety car came in on the end of lap 57, Piastri got away just before the 14th corner and kept his team-mate Norris behind as they approached Tarzan. The order remained stable.
On the 59th lap – The situation was most of the field pitted under that second Safety Car, but not all of them – and that is how Gasly was up into eighth place. Antonelli had that time penalty – if Gasly holds the pack up, perhaps Antonelli might not fall out of the points. But the Italian is also under investigation for speeding in the pit-lane at this stage.
Lap 60 – The fight up-front is intensifying nicely, as Norris had DRS for the first time today on his race-leading team-mate. The gap was down to seven tenths.
On the 61st tour – Piastri put his foot down in the final sector and crossed the line to increase the gap, so Norris could not attack into Tarzan. But this was very tight.
Further back Bortoleto pitted – and dropped out of the points. He couldn’t make his harder tyres last to he end, having not pitted under the safety car.
With ten laps remaining, Antonelli was also slapped with a five-second-time penalty for speeding in the pit-lane.
Further down the points order on lap 63 – Gasly on his older tyres was a bit of a sitting duck there as Bearman picked off the Alpine, easily flying past. Up to eighth place for Bearman, and it could be seventh if he could get close enough to Antonelli to jump in-front when the penalties get applied to the Italian’s race time at the end.
On the 64th lap – after that decent lap where Norris had DRS, Piastri had managed to pull the gap again, to the tune of 1.6 seconds. And Piastri was told: “Rain might be on the way. “A few drops.”
On lap 65th drama struck when second-placed Norris said, “I smell something funny,” and all of a sudden smoke was coming out from the back of his MCL39 racer. “It doesn’t smell good,” he added, and he was pulled over. The safety came out for the third time.
Lap 68 the order was Piastri leading from Verstappen and Hadjar. Russell was fourth in-front of Albon. Then was Antonelli in sixth but he lost that gap and had those penalties. Bearman was seventh, Stroll in eighth ahead of Alonso and Gasly.
When the safety car same in at the end of the tour, Piastri leapt away once more – as Verstappen said there was light drizzle coming down.
On the 69th lap – the situation was Piastri on the hards to Verstappen on the softs – but Piastri manages to get some grip and was gone here. Verstappen was chasing hard, this first lap was his best chance.
Lap 70 – Piastri could not quite break the DRS of Verstappen just yet, as the drizzle continued to fall at Zandvoort.
Further back on the penultimate tour – Gasly was dropping like a stone – he lost out to Ocon and was also asked to let Colapinto through.
Piastri crossed the line to take the Dutch GP victory over home favourite Verstappen by 1.271 seconds as Hadjar scored his maiden podium for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and was a further 3.233 seconds behind the Australian.
Russell followed in fourth and ahead of Albon who took fifth and Bearman who placed sixth.
The two Aston Martin’s of Stroll and Alonso followed in seventh and eighth respectively as Red Bull’s Tsunoda and Haas’s Ocon completed the top ten.
The aforementioned Hamilton, Leclerc and Sainz were the three retirees of the Grand Prix.
2025 Italian GP Preview – The Situation
Formula 1 heads to the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza this weekend for the Italian GP, the last European race of the 2025 campaign.
All eyes will be on title contender Lando Norris if he can bounce back after his shock retirement in Zandvoort last time out as McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri dominated the race.
The end result meant the Australian was 34 points clear at the top of the standings with nine Grands Prix to go.
Ferrari had a race to forget at the Dutch GP after Sir Lewis Hamilton crashed out and Charles Leclerc also retired after he was hit by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
On top of that, Hamilton was also slapped with a five-grid-placed penalty for driving too quickly under double-waved yellows on the sighting laps to the grid at Zandvoort.
Oracle Red Bull Racing also somewhat returned to form after reigning world champion Max Verstappen scored a podium for the first time since June and also the attention is on Isack Hadjar with the Frenchman taking his maiden-career podium for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team.
McLaren reserve Alexander Dunne will be stepping in for Piastri in opening practice.
Piastri returns to Italy sitting on top of the Driver’s Championship with 309 points and has a 34-point advantage over McLaren team-mate Norris who is second on 275 points in second and Verstappen sits in third place on 205 points and a further 104 points off the Australian.
McLaren Formula 1 Team comes to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on top of the Constructors Championship with 584 points and a massive 324-point lead over nearest rival Scuderia Ferrari who are second on 260 points whilst Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team is third and a further 286 behind the Woking based-outfit on 248 points.
2025 Italian GP Preview – Ferrari unveil Lauda 312 T-inspired livery for Italian GP
Ferrari have unleashed a special livery for the SF-25 and the Italian GP weekend, inspired by the 312 T and a team kit recalling the 1975 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
At the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the Maranello-marque are celebrating the 50th year anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first World Driver’s Championship crown.
It was the 1975 campaign when the Austrian driver, piloting the legendary 312 T wrote a defining chapter in the team and company’s history, with the crowning at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in front of a sea of Tifosi who went for every possible viewing point to witness the special moment.
On that Sunday, September 7, with Clay Regazzoni scoring victory in the other 312 T entry and Lauda finishing third, the Prancing Horse was back on top, capturing both the World Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship, ending an eleven-year drought and kicking-off a new era of success that would last until 1979.
The 1975’s 312 T livery will feature on the SF-25 entries of Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc this weekend thanks to a special wrapping technology courtesy of the Maranello based-outfit’s title sponsor HP, already used for the special livery at the Miami Grand Prix.
The new technology allows for major changes to the car’s appearance, using a recyclable PVC film that is both lighter than in previous years and more resistant to the high temperatures generated by Formula 1 cars.
The SF-25 entries will feature the signature traits of the legendary 312 T: the shade of red will match that of fifty years ago, the classic white longitudinal stripes will be present, as well as the drivers’ names written in cursive.
The race numbers will also echo back to the past with black numbers on a white rectangular background. The rear wing will be a metallic silver, evoking the aluminium used in those days before carbon fibre became the F1 norm.
The SF-25 engine cover will be white like Lauda’s car, and the wheels will feature a design inspired by the rims of that era.
The entire team will wear special kit inspired by the 1975 season on Sunday for the Grand Prix, featuring the return of the rectangular Ferrari logo in place of the shield – which will only be displayed on the cars.
Leclerc and Hamilton will wear race suits, shoes, and helmets specifically designed in the colours and style of the era, creating a brilliant visual connection between Ferrari’s spectacular past and its present.
The kit was developed in partnership with Ferrari’s premium sponsor Puma, and a replica collection will also be available for fans.
On Sunday before the race, former driver of the Scuderia from 1991-95, Jean Alesi will also pilot the car that he won his only Grand Prix and on his 31st Birthday, the 412 T2, powered by the legendary 3L V12, which is currently maintained by Ferrari’s F1 Clienti Department.
Ferrari will be aiming to bounce back hard at home in-front of the passionate Tifosi following a disastrous race last time out in Zandvoort.
Click here for Formula 1 2025 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Gran Premio Pirelli D’Italia 2025 weekend begins Friday September 5 with Free Practice 1 and 2, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday September 6 and will the 53 lap Race Sunday September 7.
