Just nowSun 7 Sep 2025 at 1:01pmLive: Italian Grand Prix race classification1m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 1:00pmFORMATION LAP: Max Verstappen leads the field
1m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 1:00pmFORMATION LAP: Max Verstappen leads the fieldRed Bull’s Max Verstappen leads the field on the formation lap.
Let’s see what tyres are on each car.
The top 13 drivers are on the medium compound tyres.
Liam Lawson, starting 18th, is the lone driver starting on the softs.
The race will start in about two minutes.
1m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 1:00pm
Thoughts from readers before the race start
Bring it on, Mick!
Super excited, let’s hope Piastri can make some moves early on!
– Hanan
I tip Oscar to better Lando n probably even win .
– Mark
3m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:58pm
Can Max win from pole?
Hi Michael looking forward to following your coverage again tonight. Is there any advantage for P1 or P2 starting tonight?
– Greg from Tassie
G’day Greg.
Theoretically, P1 should be the best starting spot.
But the pole sitter has not won at Monza in the previous five Italian Grand Prix.
Will that change today?
7m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:55pm
Five minutes to go
We are five minutes away from action in Monza.
Are you excited? I hope you are.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is a unique and special experience.
It is the very best of F1 — speed, passion fans.
15m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:47pm
All eyes on McLaren and their tactics
I’m happy to see someone other than Piastri or Norris on pole. Be interesting to see McLaren tactics when both their drivers have to come from behind.
– Phillip
Hello Phillip.
I am thrilled to have you on the live blog with me.
All F1 fans will be watching McLaren’s tactics closely as this season comes to its climax.
It is not easy to manage the wants and desires of both drivers who are both challenging for the world championship.
19m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:43pmFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll noted for practice start infringement
Hi Michael
Thank you Nice to have you telling us the race details. Is Alonso a chance for the podium ? . He has been pretty consistent recently , and would be nice to see him finish well.
– theraputic massage
G’day TM.
Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport F1 live blog.
Fernando Alonso starts eighth and has driven well in recent weekends.
I think several drivers ahead of him will need to suffer some misfortune for Fernando to be on the podium today.
AND …
Both Aston Martin drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, have been noted by race control for “failing to follow race director’s instructions — practice start infringement”.
All drivers will exit the pit lane, on their way to the grid, and they will do a practice start.
What have the Aston Martin duo done wrong? I am not sure yet.
This will be investigated after the grand prix.
22m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:40pm
Sensing some sarcasm from Oscar
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will be racing for the lead into turn one tonight.
Oscar Piastri, starting third, was asked what he thinks may happen.
“I nice easy turn one,” the Victorian says with the cheekiest grin seen in F1.
28m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:34pmOnly one pit stop expected tonight
Last year, there was a mix between drivers opting for one pit stop and two stops.
The Ferraris went for the one stop, while McLaren opted for two.
Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were able to reel in Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, but they could not catch Charles Leclerc, who secured a famous win.
Tonight? It’s just a one-stop.
The tyres have not degraded as much during the practice sessions, and stopping once will be the fastest option tonight.
If there are safety cars, some drivers may take a free stop.
Those starting on the medium tyre will stop around lap 22, and go onto the hard.
ANy driver on a hard will likely stop around lap 28, then onto the medium.
Will any driver or team be brave enough to gamble and run the faster, but less durable, soft tyre?
(F1)37m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:24pmItalian Grand Prix starting grid1.Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing2.Lando Norris, McLaren3.Oscar Piastri, McLaren4.Charles Leclerc, Ferrari5.George Russell, Mercedes6.Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes7.Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber8.Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin9.Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing10.Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari*11.Oliver Bearman, Haas12.Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber13.Carlos Sainz, Williams14.Alexander Albon, Williams15.Esteban Ocon, Haas16.Lance Stroll, Aston Martin17.Franco Colapinto, Alpine18.Liam Lawson19.Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls (pitlane)**20.Pierre Gasly, Alpine (pitlane)**
* Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth, but received a five-place grid penalty for not adhering to yellow flags in the Netherlands last weekend
** Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly start from the pitlane after modifications were made to their car under Parc Ferme conditions, and additional power unit elements used
42m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:20pmFast facts about the F1 Italian Grand PrixFirst grand prix — 1950Number of laps — 53Lap distance — 5,793 metresRace distance — 306.720 kilometresFastest lap (in race) — 1:21.046 Rubens Barrichello (2004)
52m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:10pm
Can McLaren be challenged tonight?
Practice and qualifying this weekend has been closer than those in recent memory.
McLaren is the standout team in 2025, and they are marching to a second consecutive constructors’ championship.
Will McLaren’s grand prix winning streak end tonight? (Gertty)
Either Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris have won 12 of the 15 grands prix for McLaren this season. The McLaren duo have combined to win the previous five grands prix.
But Max Verstappen is on pole tonight.
Charles Leclerc is fourth for Ferrari and at times has looked quick.
Meanwhile, the Mercedes duo of George Russell in Kimi Antonelli may have a fast race car.
So McLaren may not have the absolute dominance like they have had at other tracks.
Is it a surprise? Not to Piastri who spoke about this weekend’s competitiveness during a press conference last night.
I don’t think it’s a big surprise that it’s much closer here. Was Max at the top of my list of our competitors going into this weekend? I thought maybe Ferrari would be closer, but that’s based off last year. Generally, when the competition’s got close, Max has normally been the one that’s been the closest. So I don’t think it’s a massive surprise, but compared to last year it is a little bit.
57m agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:05pmWhat do I need to know about Autodromo Nazionale Monza?
Few race tracks in the world are more beloved than the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. It is known as the Temple of Speed for a reason.
F1 drivers are completing this 5,793 metre circuit in rapid time — less than 80 seconds for several drivers during qualifying last year.
Last night, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri all registered a lap time less than 79 seconds.
(F1)
The cars are at full throttle for around 80 per cent of the lap, so the best overtaking chances are in the hard-braking zones.
The chicane of turns one and two are a great passing opportunity, at the end of a DRZ zone.
Shaped like a boot, the start of the lap is a long straight before a hard-braking chicane for turns 1 and two. This is an excellent overtaking opportunity, coming after one of the DRS zones.
The chicane of turns four and five presents the next best chance for a pass. Oscar Piastri made a brilliant move on his teammate Norris at this chicane last year.
Turn eight, at the end of the second DRS zone, is another opportunity for a driver to lunge up the inside and take a position.
The final corner, turn 11, is a one of the great sights in F1. Drivers are getting on the power as early as they can while still turning the car, trying to make sure they can reach their maximum top speed on the start-finish straight.
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:00pm
One hour until the Italian Grand Prix
We are one hour away from the Italian Grand Prix.
These images of the track at Monza look magnificent.
If the race is half as good as these aerial shots, we should be in for a cracker.
Drivers will be coming down the back straight on the right of this image, before taking the final turn and onto the main straight. (F1)
The Curve di Lesmo, to the left of the image, are two left-hand corners that are very easy to get wrong. Gravel is waiting to catch out wayward drivers. (F1)
Once upon a time, drivers would race on the banked oval circuit, seen in the middle of this image amongst the trees. (F1)
The race track is located within the Parco di Monza, a public park in Monza, about 15km north of the city of Milan. (F1)
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:51am
Lando Norris believes the Red Bull will be quick in the race
McLaren’s Lando Norris will start tonight’s race second on the grid.
The Brit was narrowly pipped by Max Verstappen for pole position.
Norris is 34 points behind his teammate Oscar Piastri in the battle for the drivers’ championship, after a mechanical failure led to a retirement last week.
Tonight, Norris has a great chance to win, but he faces a very quick Red Bull, driven by the legend Max Verstappen, ahead of him on the grid.
“I think everyone’s straight-line speed is pretty intimidating to us, bar probably the Mercedes,” Norris tells UK broadcaster Sky Sports.
“My best chance of victory would be off the line, but it’s still a long race. There’s still overtaking opportunities; we can still do strategy things.
“And I still think can have better pace than the Red Bull today, but their pace is going to be strong today.”
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:45am
The race will begin in 75 minutes
What time does the GP start?
– Peter
G’day Peter.
Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia’s states and territories.
AEST: 11pm: NSW, Vic, Qld, Tas, ACTACST: 10:30pm: South Australia and Northern TerritoryAWST: 9pm: Western Australia.
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:37am
Is Max Verstappen’s pole lap last night the official fastest lap in F1?
I have a question Michael.
Does Max Verstappen’s record lap time during qualifying stand as THE fastest lap of all time, or for it to stand as the official record must it have to be recorded during a GP race?
– John
G’day John.
Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport F1 blog.
I’m glad you’re with me.
The answer is, yes. Max Verstappen has completed the fastest lap, by any driver, in terms of average speed during a grand prix weekend.
It does not have to be in a race.Â
Actually, the recent record holders have all been in qualifying, and they have all been at Monza.
1.Max Verstappen (2025): 264.682kph2.Lewis Hamitlon (2020): 264.362kph3.Kimi Raikkonen (2018): 263.587kph4.Juan Pablo Montoya (2004): 259.830kph5.Juan Pablo Montoya (2002): 259.828kph
The last time the record for fastest lap was broken, and it was not at Monza, was Keke Rosberg at Silverstone in 1985, when he clocked an average speed of 258.983kph.
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:25am
Max Verstappen excited to go racing tonight at Monza
Pole sitter Max Verstappen has been interviewed on the drivers’ parade lap.
Last night, he broke the track record at Monza and recorded the fastest ever lap in F1, based on his average speed.
“So far, the whole weekend has been quite positive. Fighting for pole [might have] been a little bit of a surprise. Now I’m just excited to go into the race,” he says.
The four-time world champion was asked if he will have a “full send” into turn one to preserve his lead.
The Dutchman emphasised tonight’s race will not be decided by the first corner.
“It’s a long race, a lot can happen. But we’ll try to do our best and, of course, hopefully we can stay there.”
Blogger’s thought: Is the phrase “It’s a long race” the F1 equivalent of a footy player giving “full credit to the boys/girls”?1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:19amPiastri will not be trying to defend his championship lead
The drivers are on a parade lap around the circuit at Monza.
They are being greeted by the enormous crowd who are packed into the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
And it’s our first chance to hear from the drivers tonight.
Australian Oscar Piastri holds a season-high 34-point lead in the drivers’ championship, ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri starts third tonight, with Norris second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on pole.
Piastri has been asked about his mindset for tonight’s Italian Grand Prix.
With a 34-point lead, do you go for the win or are you thinking about preserving your advantage in the championship?
“If there’s an option to do both, that works for me,” he says.
“But it’s still very early to be thinking about taking it easy in the championship. Still a long, long way to go.
“So if there is a chance to win the race then I am going to try and go for it.”
1h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 11:10amMax Verstappen sets the fastest lap in F1 history
Max Verstappen snatched pole position last night with a magnificent lap around Monza.
His time of 1:18.792 was a new lap record at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
But more notably, it was the fastest lap in F1 history.
His average speed on that pole lap was 264.68kph, the fastest lap ever completed in F1, beating Lewis Hamilton’s average speed of 264.362kph set at Monza in 2020.