Italian Grand Prix 2025 Preview Predictions and Hot Takes for Monza Showdown

As the Formula 1 action heads to Monza for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, the excitement is electric. The famed Autodromo Nazionale Monza, known for its breathtaking high-speed straights and passionate tifosi, is set to deliver another thrilling chapter in this year’s championship saga. With McLaren at the top of the constructors’ standings and Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battling fiercely for the drivers’ title, we can expect a race filled with drama and speed.

In this article, we'll recap the recent Dutch Grand Prix, highlight the first two free practice sessions in Monza, and share our predictions for the podium finishers. We'll also present five bold hot takes and analyze the potential winners and losers as we look ahead to this iconic race.

Recap of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix

The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort featured many thrilling elements, with Oscar Piastri taking the headlines by howcasing his skills by seizing victory from the pole position. This win was significant; it extended his lead in the championship standings to 34 points, bolstering his confidence and putting the title in his sight. However, Lando Norris faced a heartbreaking DNF on Lap 65 caused by an engine failure, a setback that could jeopardize his title aspirations and puts the Driver's in Piastri's hands.

Max Verstappen, racing for Red Bull, secured second place, reaffirming his fierce ambition for the championship title, while Isack Hadjar made headlines by landing his first podium finish as a rookie on VCARB, Red Bull's second team—a remarkable feat in only his sixteenth race, showing his potential. Alex Albon and newcomer Ollie Bearman finished in the top six, with Albon continuing to demonstrate impressive form in his Williams car.

Free Practice Sessions 1 and 2

As teams took to Monza, the first two free practice sessions provided key data on car performance and setups.

Free Practice 1

In FP1, Ferrari returned revamped with the spirit of the tifosi, with both Hamilton and Leclerc showcasing impressive times—Hamilton topping the charts at 1:20.117, showcasing a clear edge over competitors with a tenth of a second between him and his teammate in second. Williams had great results with Sainz in third and Albon in seventh, while Mercedes looked strong with rookie Antonelli in fifth and veteran Russel in eighth. Norris disappointed in the McLaren in sixth while Piastri gave up his seat for the session to Alexander Dunne, who placed sixteenth, ahead of both of Alpine's and Haas' drivers.

Free Practice 2

FP2 continued to highlight Ferrari's strength; Leclerc maintained quick times, finishing in second with under a tenth of a second gap to the leader, Red Bull placed both drivers in the top ten with Verstappen in sixth and Tsunoda in an impressive ninth. McLaren retained their spot at the top with Norris topping the time sheets after a disappointing FP1 and Piastri finishing fourth in his first drive of the weekend. On the other hand, Mercedes struggled to find their FP1 form, leaving George Russell and Kimi Antonelli searching for answers in tenth and nineteenth respectively. Williams continued to impress, with Sainz and Albon again finishing in third and seventh but much closer to Norris in FP2 than Hamilton in FP1.

Podium Predictions

With insights from the Dutch Grand Prix and the practice sessions, here are our predictions for the podium finishers at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix:

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

   
   

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

   
   

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

   
   

Five Spicy Hot Takes

Now, let’s spice things up with some bold hot takes for the Italian Grand Prix, rated from 1 to 5 spicy pepper emojis:

1. 🌶️ - Lando Norris will bounce back and win from P2. The McLaren star is in top form and will push hard for every point. He should be able to refind his form after a dissapointing end to his campaign in Zandvoort, and will be desperate to cut into the championship lead.

   
   

2. 🌶️🌶️ - Lewis Hamilton will finish outside of the top 10. Following his DNF in Zandvoort and his five-place grid penalty here in Monza, the Italian Grand Prix may prove challenging for him. He will not score in his first race as a home favorite in the Ferrari.

   
   

3. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Ferrari will deliver at home to reignite their season. They may capitalize on any missteps from Red Bull or Mercedes, especially in front of their passionate home fans. While Hamilton may struggle, Leclerc is beginning to find his form and was racing well until his crash in Zandvoort. He will secure a champagne shower and big points for Ferrari.

   
   

4. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Red Bull will fail to score. This would only be a surprise if consistent and experienced defending World Champion Max Verstappen has problems. Tsunoda is likely to finish outside of the points, even after capitalizing on DNFs and pentalties to secure points in Zandvoort. Verstappen will either have a pentaly, bad pit stop, crash, or car failure that causes him to finish outside of the top ten or not at all, leaving Red Bull in the dust in the race for second in the Constructors'.

   
   

5. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Kimi Antonelli will be seconds off his second podium. Antonelli is slowly gaining confidence racing alongside Russel in the Mercedes. He was on track for an excellent finish in Zandvoort if not for causing the collision with Leclerc. He should be able to bounce back stronger then ever and come within reaching distance of replicating his magic in Montreal.

   
   

Winners and Losers

As we approach the Italian Grand Prix, here’s our analysis of potential winners and losers:

Winner: Lando Norris (McLaren)

Following his DNF and disappointment in the Netherlands, Norris will regain his confidence and close the gap to Piastri by a few points. His skill in the McLaren car and success last year in Monza make him a strong contender.

Loser: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Verstappen will struggle to carry the expectations of Red Bull this week with a zero point weekend. He will not win in qualifying, set the fastest lap, or finish in the top ten, leaving him hungry for vengence in Baku.

Winner: Mercedes

Mercedes will secure a double points finish with both drivers finishing in the top six. Antonelli is set for a strong weekend with an excellent showing in FP1 and his growing confidence in the Mercedes every weekend. Russell is always an excellent bet for a mid- to high-points finish and should also be set to earn a revamped Mercedes car points at the Temple of Speed.

Loser: Aston Martin

Speaking of a team that seems not to be talked about enough, how about Aston Martin? Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have both put in incredible results in the last few races to get the British team back into the heart of the midfield battle. After an amazing result in Zandvoort, Aston Martin looks set to regress. They may score a couple of points, but Stroll will not drive well and Alonso will struggle as well. They'll lose major ground in the midfield battle.

Thrilling Race Ahead

The 2025 Italian Grand Prix is shaping up to be an exciting race packed with fast-paced action, drama, and fierce competition. McLaren’s strength, the intense rivalry between Piastri and Norris, and the threats from Red Bull and Ferrari all make for an enthralling showdown. As teams prepare at Monza, fans eagerly anticipate which driver will emerge victorious in this iconic event.

Get ready for a riveting weekend of high-speed action, and may the best driver claim the glory!