Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing secured pole at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying in Monza. He set a lap time of 1m18.792s, beating Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren F1 Team. McLaren’s Andrea Stella explained why they lost. This article breaks down the reasons and the competition at Monza.
McLaren’s Aerodynamic Struggles
Andrea Stella noted that the McLaren MCL39 excels in corners but struggles on Monza’s straights. “We’re fast in corners. However, Monza’s corners are short. We lose time on straights,” Stella said. Monza has only six corners. Thus, McLaren’s strength was not enough. Moreover, a low-drag rear wing setup reduced aerodynamic efficiency. For example, McLaren performed better at tracks like Zandvoort and Hungary.
Verstappen and Red Bull’s Edge
Verstappen leveraged Oracle Red Bull Racing’s strengths. The RB21 was fast on straights. Additionally, race engineer Adrian Newey’s expertise gave an edge. As a result, Verstappen beat Norris by 0.077 seconds on September 6, 2025. Meanwhile, Red Bull Pit Crew ensured precise car setup.
Rivalry with Ferrari and Others
Scuderia Ferrari, led by Charles Leclerc, took fourth. They were competitive but trailed Verstappen. Meanwhile, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team under Toto Wolff stayed in the midfield. Teams like BWT Alpine F1 Team and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team struggled. Thus, Monza favored low-drag cars.
McLaren’s Race Strategy
Despite the loss, McLaren is hopeful for the race on September 7, 2025. Stella stressed tire and pit stop strategies. With Norris and Piastri starting second and third, McLaren can challenge Verstappen. Furthermore, Scuderia Ferrari may shine with tifosi support. Therefore, Sportrik predicts the race will hinge on team strategy and driver performance at high-speed Monza.
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