Max Verstappen claims dominant victory at Italian Grand Prix for 1st win since May

MONZA, Italy (AP) — Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of McLaren's title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, after a dramatic start and end to the race at Monza.

It was a first win since May for Verstappen – and only his third of the season — and capped a memorable weekend at Monza for Red Bull's four-time world champion, who had posted the fastest lap in Formula 1 history at the track on Saturday to claim pole position.

“That was unbelievable guys! Well done everyone,” Verstappen said on team radio. "We executed that really well. What an unbelievable weekend. We can be really proud of that.”

Norris was second, nearly 20 seconds behind Verstappen, to trim the gap to Piastri in the title race to 31 points, with eight races remaining. He had started the day 34 points behind the Australian driver, who was not happy after he was ordered to let his teammate past toward the end of the race.

The switch came after Norris had a slow pit stop, which appeared to put his title chances further in jeopardy when he came out behind his teammate but McLaren ordered Piastri to let the British driver past, which he did despite grumbling about the decision on team radio.

“I felt like I was there for quite a long time,” Norris said. “Every now and then we make mistakes as a team and this was one of them.”

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had solid performances at the team's home race. Cheered on by the passionate, red-clad tifosi, Leclerc finished fourth while Hamilton surged through the field at the start to cross the line in sixth — after starting from 10th following a five-place grid penalty.

Norris was desperate to rebound from a disastrous Dutch GP where he retired with a rare engine problem. Starting from second at Monza, he tussled with Verstappen from the start and was forced off into the grass at the first corner.

“I always know it is going to be a good fight with Max and it was,” Norris said. “One of those weekends where we are a bit slower but a good fight and I enjoyed it.”

Verstappen was told to give the place back and duly did so but the Red Bull driver reclaimed the lead at the start of lap four, diving past Norris into turn one.

From there, it was almost a procession to victory for Verstappen.

“It was a great day for us. Of course lap 1 was a bit unlucky, but after that we were flying and that was for me really enjoyable," said Verstappen, who is third in the standings but 94 points behind Piastri and will almost certainly see his run of four straight titles ended this year.

“Fantastic execution by everyone from the whole team. I think the whole weekend we were on it and it’s super enjoyable to win here ... We’ll go step by step, race by race, but for us this of course was an unbelievable weekend.”

Verstappen briefly found himself behind the McLarens after pitting on lap 38 but retook the lead when Piastri was brought in on lap 46, followed by Norris a lap later.

“We went so long so the soft tires seemed like a good tire to put on," Piastri said. "We were staying out for safety cars if we got any. A little incident at the end but it’s okay.”

Hamilton was just behind his former Mercedes teammate George Russell, with Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar rounding out the top 10.

Antonelli had crossed the line in eighth but the Italian teenager dropped a place because of a five-second penalty for contact with Albon.

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, overtakes McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain during the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands crosses the finish line to win the Italian Grand Prix race at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Marco Bertorello/Pool Photo via AP)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the third free practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, centre, celebrates his pole position with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ta'Niya Latson scored a season-high 32 points and Joyce Edwards 25 as No. 3 South Carolina rolled past North Carolina Central 106-42 on Sunday, despite missing ill starter Tessa Johnson and losing Madina Okot to injury in the first half.

Johnson had 20 points to lead the Gamecocks (9-1) to a 79-77 victory at Louisville this past Thursday, but came down with an illness and was held out. Okot, the 6-foot-6 Mississippi State transfer averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds, came off the floor midway through the second quarter and did not return.

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said afterwards that Okot was feeling sick. “It's going around,” she said.

The absences had South Carolina off balance early on and kept the Eagles (1-8) hanging around longer than some in the crowd expected.

North Carolina Central hit three of its first four shots to lead 7-4 before South Carolina got going behind Edwards to close the first quarter with a 22-7 run. Edwards had had two three-point plays and 12 points during that stretch as the Gamecocks outscored North Carolina Central 22-10 in the paint to take control.

The Gamecocks came out with some fire after the break on both sides of the ball. Latson hit a pair of 3-pointers as South Carolina opened with a 25-0 run. The Eagles missed their first 12 shots of the period and ended up getting outscored 28-2.

Tierney Coleman led North Carolina Central with 14 points.

South Carolina's defense forced 36 turnovers and had 10 blocks against the Eagles.

South Carolina's Okot came in leading the country with seven double-doubles. She was not on the bench when the team returned in the second half, coming out of the locker room midway through the third quarter. Okot finished with 10 points and a rebound shy of another double-double in 11 first-half minutes.

South Carolina's roster had just 10 players after expected post players Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts were lost for the season with injuries. While the attrition has continued in the season's opening month, Staley blocks it out as best she can.

Staley concentrates on who is available to play. “We got eight (players) today. I only see eight. We got reduced to seven, I only see seven,” she said. “We're just going to play the hand that we're dealt to the best of our ability.”

North Carolina Central goes to High Point on Dec. 14.

South Carolina hosts Penn State on Dec. 14.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

South Carolina center Madina Okot, left, pulls down an offensive rebound against North Carolina Central forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

South Carolina guard Ayla McDowell (24) looks to shoot against North Carolina Central guard Shakiria Foster (10) and forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against North Carolina Central forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) drives to the basket against North Carolina Central forward Aniya Finger (24), guard Tierney Coleman (4) and forward Dianna Blake (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson (00) drives against North Carolina Central guard Najah Lane during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)