On Sunday, Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix in an unparalleled fashion. The Dutchman had to wait relatively long for his third victory of the season, but at the Temple of Speed, the 27-year-old Red Bull driver was clearly unmatched. The international media also praised Verstappen’s performance, who coolly outperformed his rivals from pole position. In the lion’s den – the home of Ferrari – a ‘magical’ Max crowned himself king.
The Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport had naturally hoped for a Ferrari victory, but the red cars of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton played a minor role this weekend. Therefore, all attention is focused on the Dutchman’s victory. ‘Verstappen king of Monza’, the Italians headline. “If Monza is a magical circuit, then he is Harry Potter; only a wizard could have managed to twist the predictions and beat Ferrari and McLaren,” is their verdict. “Both in qualifying and in the race. He is the only one in this Formula 1 era who pushes the boundaries of his car – he drives beyond the limits of the car. He may not be able to prolong his title series, but everyone knows that he is still number one in 2025.”
Dispute with Norris
The focus of our neighbors to the east is primarily on the clash between Lando Norris and Verstappen, who locked horns in the opening stages of the race. “Norris calls Verstappen an idiot,” headlines BILD. “Bold Monza show by the Dutchman,” the subtitle clarifies. This medium also praised Verstappen’s performance and eventual victory: “Mamma Mia, this race was one for the connoisseurs! Verstappen is faster than the entire Formula 1 and crowns himself king of Monza.” A concise summary of the race? “Dispute, drama, and a smiling Dutchman,” judges BILD.
Like La Gazzetta, the Spanish Marca still considers Verstappen the best driver in Formula 1. “The greatest connoisseurs of the sport say there are three types of circuits on the calendar – Monaco, Monza, and the rest,” says the Spanish editor on duty. The Italian GP is historic and special, and Max Verstappen celebrated a monumental victory there. After qualifying, he had more than earned it; he set a new track record and then struck hard in the race. He may not win the title, but everyone agrees that he is the best driver at the moment.”
