Verstappen Shatters Monza Record for Italian GP Pole Ahead of McLaren Duo

Max Verstappen roared to a new outright lap record at Monza, securing pole position for the Italian Grand Prix. He edged out McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a thrilling qualifying session.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's pole marks his fifth of the season and 45th overall, further cementing his dominance. Setting a new Monza lap record, he demonstrated Red Bull's strong pace even at a track traditionally challenging for them. The tight battle with McLaren also sets the stage for an exciting race.

The big picture:

Monza's high-speed nature often shuffles the grid, but Verstappen's performance reaffirmed his and Red Bull's strong form. McLaren's strong showing with Norris and Piastri in P2 and P3 highlights their continued progress and potential to challenge at the front.

The details:

• Q1: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc initially set the pace, followed by Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen quickly split them. George Russell briefly led on Medium tires, showcasing track evolution. Eliminated drivers included Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson.
• Q2: Verstappen took an early lead with a 1:19.140. Lando Norris had a lap deleted but recovered to secure his Q3 spot after strategic tire changes. Eliminated were Haas' Ollie Bearman, Kick Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg, Williams' Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, and Haas' Esteban Ocon.
• Q3 Battle: In the final runs, Piastri initially took provisional pole with 1:18.982. Norris, aided by a tow, then leapfrogged his teammate to 1:18.869. However, Verstappen delivered a sensational final lap of 1:18.792, nearly a tenth quicker than Norris and breaking Lewis Hamilton's 2020 record.

What they're saying:

"To be on pole here for us is fantastic. The car has been working a lot better the whole weekend. To be able to fight for pole, I'm very happy with that," said Max Verstappen, acknowledging the team's progress. "It was tight. We made some final changes, which I think allowed me to push a bit more."

What's next:

Max Verstappen will start from pole, flanked by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, promising a challenging opening. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth. Lewis Hamilton, who qualified P10, will start P9 due to a five-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s race, further shuffling the midfield.