
Verstappen Claims Monza Pole with Fastest F1 Lap in History
Verstappen Beats Norris to Monza Pole with Record-Breaking Lap
Max Verstappen stunned the Formula 1 paddock by claiming pole position for the Italian Grand Prix with the fastest lap in F1 history, clocking a 1:18.792 at a staggering average speed of 164.484 mph around the legendary Monza circuit.
The Red Bull driver narrowly edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had briefly claimed provisional pole with a time of 1:18.869, surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s previous lap record from 2020.
Top 10 Qualifying Results (Before Penalties)
-
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
-
Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.077s
-
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.113s
-
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
-
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +5 grid penalty
-
George Russell (Mercedes)
-
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
-
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
-
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
-
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Verstappen Back on Pole
After a mixed weekend in practice, Verstappen’s qualifying pace surprised even himself.
“Around here with low downforce, it’s always hard to nail a lap. I’m happy with the car and to be back on pole,” Verstappen said.
It marks Verstappen’s first pole since Silverstone and a potential turning point in his title battle, especially given Red Bull’s struggles in low-downforce settings earlier this year.
McLaren Strong Again, But Norris Frustrated
Lando Norris led a McLaren 2-3, but admitted to a scrappy session:
“It was up and down, too many mistakes. P2 is still good, but it wasn’t my cleanest session,” said Norris.
Oscar Piastri, 34 points ahead of Norris in the championship, admitted turn one cost him a shot at pole but was pleased with his performance.
Ferrari Falter as Hamilton Faces Penalty
Charles Leclerc was unable to improve on his first Q3 lap, while Lewis Hamilton—on his first Italian GP for Ferrari—was 0.117s slower than Leclerc and will start 10th due to a five-place grid penalty.
Despite the setback, Hamilton praised the atmosphere:
“Driving out in red at Monza is like nothing I’ve experienced. I’ll try to work my way forward.”
Russell’s Tyre Mix-Up, Antonelli Shines
George Russell voiced confusion over Mercedes’ decision to switch from mediums to softs for the final Q3 run. Still, he qualified sixth, just ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, who recovered well after a spin in FP2.
Surprises from Bortoleto and Alonso
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) both outperformed expectations. Alonso admitted the team expected a tough weekend but said clever tyre prep unlocked pace:
“We thought Q1 was the end of the day for us. But we found the sweet spot.”
What’s Next?
The Italian Grand Prix gets underway Sunday at 14:00 BST, with Verstappen looking to convert pole into victory and McLaren and Ferrari poised to challenge.
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment!