Piastri ordered to let Norris pass as Verstappen prevails

Max Verstappen took victory at the Italian Grand Prix with a dominant drive for Red Bull but, as the world champion hared across the finish line, the intra-team psychodrama at McLaren was playing out once more in his wake and its theatrical head-to-head was greeted with some disdain in motor racing's colosseum.

- Giles Richards

Having fought a frenetic scrap on the opening laps, during which he lost and regained the lead, Verstappen went on to pound out a consummate run to the flag and in so doing beat the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third.

The two title protagonists finished thus only after McLaren once more imposed orders on their drivers in the closing stages that proved controversial.

The debrief for McLaren will once more likely extend into the night, as the team pursued their goal of being scrupulously fair to both drivers.

Some fans at Monza made their feelings clear, booing Norris as he stepped on to the podium, unhappy with how this brand of bread and circus had been stage-managed.

Although of course the irony of Ferrari fans expressing displeasure at the application of team orders was of the particularly delicious variety.

Verstappen was long gone up the road when it happened but his championship chances are similarly distant while Piastri and Norris are locked in a struggle for the title.

Piastri led by 34 points going into the GP and Norris knows he must claw points back from his teammate at every opportunity.

So far so good then when he maintained his place in second in front of the Australian for the vast majority of the race, a minor swing of three points but what he required.