“Today a single driver made everyone look stupid,” sums up Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after the Grand Prix of Italy in 2025 at Servustv. What is meant is Max Verstappen, who won the race in Monza with almost 20 seconds ahead of the two McLaren pilots.
“We didn’t expect that,” says Laurent Mekies, for whom it is the first Grand Prix victory as Red Bull team boss. His first two victories in Suzuka and Imola had understood under Mekies predecessor Christian Horner.
“All of our numbers indicated that [die McLaren] Usually have a greater advantage in the race than in qualifications. Therefore, we expected a defense race and tried to work out scenarios how we can defend ourselves against these boys. “
“Ultimately, however, we had a pace advantage today,” says Mekies, surprised. “The first curve did not run so optimally. We already trembled a bit. But otherwise it was an incredible demonstration of power,” emphasizes Helmut Marko at Servustv.
Because Verstappen initially lost to Lando Norris. Because he abbreviated the first harassment, he had to leave Norris the lead so as not to risk a punishment. Already at the beginning of round 4, the world champion took the lead back – and then pulled away.
“I would say that the pace was probably even better than expected. The balance was just very good,” reports Verstappen to Sky and explains that he drove his own pace. He only had slight difficulties at the end of the first stint.
Marko: Were McLaren “superior in every phase”
That was the only phase of the race, in which Norris gave him a minimal approach to him again. But “the right strategy” was chosen, said Verstappen, who came to the box in front of the two McLaren pilots and initially lost the lead.
“We switched to the hard tires so that I could go full throttle until the end. Of course, I understood McLaren’s strategy, which aimed to fall by the wayside and hope for a safety car,” said Verstappen.
But because there was no neutralization until the end of the race, Verstappen was given the lead after the late stops of the two McLaren pilots and finally won the race. “Two races in Budapest, we were still happy to make a point,” recalls Marko.
“This is unbelievable. Max naturally drove the fastest round in the penultimate round. Although he was told that he should bring it home easily. But that’s just Max,” said Marko, for whom “the amazing thing was that we were superior to the McLaren in every phase.”
This was also surprising because Monza 2024 was probably the most difficult season race for Red Bull. A year later, Verstappen initially drove the fastest qualifying round on Saturday and on Sunday the fastest race in the previous Formula 1 history.
Set-up and wing as a key to victory
According to him, the reason for this was the set-up, among other things, with which you recently experimented a lot. “And I think now we finally seem to have found a direction that fits the car. So I hope that from now on it will run a little more constant,” he says satisfied.
In addition, a special monza rear wing, which only used in the race, did not help teammates Yuki Tsunoda. Team boss Mekies explains that one was not sure whether the Monza wing was the right choice because it initially had a negative impact on balance.
“Although it seemed much more difficult, with this lower level [beim Abtrieb] Max was very strong to find the right balance and made us capture and find other solutions to return his balance, “he reports.
“The boys did an excellent job, so that ultimately both cars on another today [Abtriebs-]There were levels, “explains Mekies. While Verstappen won the race with the Monza wing, Tsunoda was only 13 with the” classic “wing.
At the finish line, the Japanese had 1 minute and 20 seconds behind Verstappen and just barely escaped over. Expert Nico Rosberg therefore personally attributes the Red Bull victory in Monza at Sky.
The world champion “didn’t have the best car in qualifying, but made this phenomenal round.” Verstappen has shown again why he is one of the “Top 5 ever” among Formula 1 drivers, says Rosberg, who emphasizes: “You can’t do that better.”