diff --git a/vpr/src/place/place_delay_model.h b/vpr/src/place/place_delay_model.h
index b1fe5ac305e..db22db238ec 100644
--- a/vpr/src/place/place_delay_model.h
+++ b/vpr/src/place/place_delay_model.h
@@ -6,6 +6,20 @@
 #include "vpr_types.h"
 #include "router_delay_profiling.h"
 
+#ifndef __has_attribute
+#    define __has_attribute(x) 0 // Compatibility with non-clang compilers.
+#endif
+
+#if defined(COMPILER_GCC) && defined(NDEBUG)
+#    define ALWAYS_INLINE inline __attribute__((__always_inline__))
+#elif defined(COMPILER_MSVC) && defined(NDEBUG)
+#    define ALWAYS_INLINE __forceinline
+#elif __has_attribute(always_inline)
+#    define ALWAYS_INLINE __attribute__((always_inline)) // clang
+#else
+#    define ALWAYS_INLINE inline
+#endif
+
 //Abstract interface to a placement delay model
 class PlaceDelayModel {
   public:
@@ -95,13 +109,29 @@ class OverrideDelayModel : public PlaceDelayModel {
         short delta_x;
         short delta_y;
 
-        friend bool operator<(const t_override& lhs, const t_override& rhs) {
-            return std::tie(lhs.from_type, lhs.to_type, lhs.from_class, lhs.to_class, lhs.delta_x, lhs.delta_y)
-                   < std::tie(rhs.from_type, rhs.to_type, rhs.from_class, rhs.to_class, rhs.delta_x, rhs.delta_y);
+        //A combination of ALWAYS_INLINE attribute and std::lexicographical_compare
+        //is required for operator< to be inlined by compiler.
+        //Proper inlining of the function reduces place time by around 5%.
+        //For more information: https://github.com/verilog-to-routing/vtr-verilog-to-routing/issues/1225
+        friend ALWAYS_INLINE bool operator<(const t_override& lhs, const t_override& rhs) {
+            const short* left = reinterpret_cast<const short*>(&lhs);
+            const short* right = reinterpret_cast<const short*>(&rhs);
+            constexpr size_t NUM_T_OVERRIDE_MEMBERS = sizeof(t_override) / sizeof(short);
+            return std::lexicographical_compare(left, left + NUM_T_OVERRIDE_MEMBERS, right, right + NUM_T_OVERRIDE_MEMBERS);
         }
     };
 
     vtr::flat_map2<t_override, float> delay_overrides_;
+
+    //operator< treats memory layout of t_override as an array of short
+    //this requires all members of t_override are shorts and there is no padding between members of t_override
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override) == sizeof(t_override::from_type) + sizeof(t_override::to_type) + sizeof(t_override::from_class) + sizeof(t_override::to_class) + sizeof(t_override::delta_x) + sizeof(t_override::delta_y), "Expect t_override to have a memory layout equivalent to an array of short (no padding)");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::from_type) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::to_type) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::from_class) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::to_class) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::delta_x) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
+    static_assert(sizeof(t_override::delta_y) == sizeof(short), "Expect all t_override data members to be shorts");
 };
 
 #endif