Max Verstappen claimed F1 Italian GP pole position with a new all-time Monza lap record after a fiercely contested Formula 1 Qualifying shootout against McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Dutchman secured his fifth pole of the season after delivering a stunning final lap clocking in at 1:18.792 setting a new all-time fastest lap around the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
The remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record – set by Lewis Hamilton in 2020 – by 0.095 seconds and marked the fastest lap by average speed in Formula 1 history, with Verstappen averaging a breathtaking 164.484 mph.
His pole-winning time edged out a determined Lando Norris by a mere 0.077 seconds, while championship leader Oscar Piastri settled for third on the grid, setting the stage for a gripping race at the “Temple of Speed.”
Qualifying unfolded in three parts as is tradition in Formula 1, with each segment adding layers of tension and drama.
The initial segment was fiercely competitive as teams and drivers jostled to set fast times on Monza’s high-speed layout, which demands a unique setup favoring straight-line speed combined with aerodynamic efficiency through the fast corners.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar faced an early setback after being eliminated in Q1 for the first time in his F1 career, a tough blow following his recent maiden podium.
Several other drivers including Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto also failed to progress beyond Q1, highlighting the ever-increasing competitiveness of the midfield.
Meanwhile, the majority of the field progressed to Q2, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for provisional grid positions.
Lando Norris was precariously close to elimination after a botched first run where he made an error in the first chicane, but managed a last-minute qualifying lap that catapulted him into Q3.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso were on the cusp of elimination.
Antonelli later set the fastest lap as Hamilton went eighth with just a few seconds left, Charles Leclerc was in fifth as Alonso and Bearman made it into the top 10.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas’ Esteban Ocon, Williams’ Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz were ultimately eliminated.
Full F1 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying Results
The final stage of qualifying, Q3, was a showcase of world-class driving talent under intense pressure. Lando Norris initially looked poised to claim pole with a stellar flying lap that briefly saw him top the timing sheets.
However, Max Verstappen’s incredible last-gasp effort on his final lap at Monza changed everything. The four-time world champion’s lap was a blend of absolute perfection, commitment, and skill, enabling him to snatch F1 Italian GP pole position away from Norris in the dying moments of the session.
Current championship leader Oscar Piastri qualified third, setting the scene for a fierce intra-team rivalry at McLaren on Sunday. The presence of both McLarens so close to Verstappen’s Red Bull added intrigue to the race strategy discussions expected to unfold.
Ferrari’s home fans had mixed feelings as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished just behind the top three, in fourth and fifth respectively.
However, Hamilton was set to receive a five-place grid penalty for a yellow-flag infringement at the recent Dutch Grand Prix, which demoted him back to tenth on the grid.
This reshuffled the starting order by promoting Mercedes’ duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to fifth and sixth respectively, with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’ Oliver Bearman rounding out the top ten spots for Sunday’s race.
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