The Formula 1 world was rocked by controversy following the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, as the FIA announced a second penalty for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after he was found to have breached regulations during the race weekend. The four-time world champion, who delivered a commanding performance to secure his third victory of the season, faced scrutiny for two separate infractions, with the latest penalty adding fuel to an already dramatic event. Verstappen’s triumph at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza was overshadowed by the FIA’s decisions, sparking debates among fans and analysts about the fairness and implications of the penalties.

The Italian Grand Prix, held on September 7, 2025, saw Verstappen convert pole position into a dominant win, finishing over 19 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who took second place, and Oscar Piastri, who settled for third after a controversial team orders saga. The race was filled with intense battles, strategic missteps, and a series of penalties that altered the final classification. Verstappen’s victory, his first since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May, showcased his return to form, but the post-race focus shifted to the FIA’s rulings, particularly the second penalty issued to the Dutch driver.

The first penalty Verstappen received was a £429 (€500) fine for speeding in the pit lane during the second practice session (FP2) on Friday, September 5, 2025. The FIA determined that Verstappen’s car exceeded the 80 km/h pit lane speed limit by 4.8 km/h, breaching Article 34.7 of the 2025 Formula One Sporting Regulations. This relatively minor infraction carried no further consequences, such as penalty points on his super license, and Red Bull chose not to appeal the decision, given its minimal impact. However, the second penalty, confirmed post-race, was far more significant and stirred considerable controversy.

Details of the second penalty emerged after the FIA investigated an incident during the race’s opening lap. At the start, Verstappen and Norris went wheel-to-wheel, with the McLaren driver attempting to seize the lead. Verstappen, defending his position, cut the first chicane, gaining an advantage by skipping the corner. Although he complied with Red Bull’s instruction to cede the lead to Norris at the end of Lap 1 to avoid an immediate penalty, the stewards revisited the incident post-race. The FIA concluded that Verstappen’s maneuver constituted a breach of racing regulations, specifically for gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track. As a result, he was handed a five-second time penalty, applied to his final race time.

This penalty, however, did not alter Verstappen’s race result, as his lead over Norris was substantial enough to absorb the time addition. The final classification confirmed Verstappen as the winner with a time of 1:13:24.325, with Norris finishing 19.207 seconds behind, even after the penalty was applied. The decision sparked heated discussions, with some arguing that the penalty was too lenient, given Verstappen’s ability to maintain his victory, while others believed the FIA’s response was appropriate, as he had followed team orders to give up the position initially.

The Monza weekend was no stranger to penalties, as several other drivers faced sanctions for various infractions. Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, received a five-second penalty for erratic driving, dropping him to ninth place. Haas’s Oliver Bearman was handed a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Williams’ Carlos Sainz at the Roggia chicane, which scattered debris across the track and disrupted both drivers’ races. Esteban Ocon of Haas was also penalized with a five-second time penalty for forcing Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll off the track on Lap 2. Additionally, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly started from the pit lane after his team failed to cover his car within two hours of qualifying, breaching parc fermé rules.

The penalties at Monza highlighted the FIA’s stricter enforcement of regulations in 2025, a season marked by increased scrutiny on driver conduct and team compliance. The governing body had introduced new penalty guidelines earlier in the year, emphasizing a harder crackdown on misconduct, including erratic driving and track limit violations. Verstappen’s second penalty, in particular, underscored the FIA’s commitment to ensuring fair racing, even for a driver of his caliber. However, the decision also raised questions about consistency, as some fans pointed out that similar incidents in past races had resulted in harsher punishments.

Verstappen’s performance at Monza was a masterclass, with the Dutch driver regaining the lead on Lap 4 after a brief battle with Norris and maintaining a commanding gap throughout the race. His ability to manage tires and execute a flawless strategy allowed him to cruise to the chequered flag, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record for the fastest race in F1 history, completed in just over 73 minutes. Despite the penalties, Verstappen remained unfazed, stating post-race, “It was a great day for us. We were flying, the car was really enjoyable. We pitted at the right time, just fantastic execution by the whole team.” His comments reflected confidence in Red Bull’s strategy and his own driving prowess, even as the FIA’s decisions cast a shadow over his victory.

The broader context of the 2025 season added weight to the penalty discussions. With McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship with 324 points, followed by Norris with 293 and Verstappen with 230, every point and position is critical. Verstappen’s win at Monza narrowed the gap to Piastri to 94 points, keeping him in contention despite McLaren’s dominance throughout the season. The penalties, while not affecting his race result, served as a reminder of the tightrope drivers walk in the highly competitive 2025 championship.

For Red Bull, the Monza victory was a much-needed boost after a challenging season. The team’s strategic execution, combined with Verstappen’s skill, allowed them to capitalize on McLaren’s pit stop blunder, which saw Norris lose second place to Piastri before team orders restored the original order. The incident highlighted the intense rivalry between the two McLaren drivers, with Piastri reluctantly complying with the instruction to swap positions. This drama, coupled with Verstappen’s penalties, ensured that the 2025 Italian Grand Prix would be remembered as much for its controversies as for its on-track action.

As the F1 circus moves to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on September 21, 2025, the focus will remain on Verstappen and whether he can maintain his momentum. The FIA’s penalties at Monza have set a precedent for stricter enforcement, and drivers will need to tread carefully to avoid further sanctions. For Verstappen, the second penalty serves as a minor blemish on an otherwise stellar performance, but it also underscores the challenges of racing at the pinnacle of motorsport, where every move is scrutinized. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how the championship battle unfolds in the remaining races, with Verstappen determined to close the gap to the McLaren duo.