Max Verstappen Achieves Historic Pole Position at Monza

Max Verstappen made F1 history with a record-breaking pole position at the Monza circuit, setting the fastest lap of all time. This triumph underscores Red Bull's strong form and Verstappen's exceptional driving prowess.

Why it matters

Verstappen's pole at Monza, achieved with an average speed of 264.682 km/h, marks a significant milestone in Formula 1. It highlights his dominance and Red Bull's engineering excellence on a challenging high-speed track.

The big picture

Red Bull's RB21 showed excellent aerodynamic efficiency from the start of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, allowing them to be competitive immediately. Coupled with Verstappen's confidence behind the wheel, the team had a strong foundation for success.

The details

• Sector 1 Mastery: A key factor in Verstappen's pole was his improved performance in the first sector, an area where Red Bull had struggled in free practice. They rectified this for qualifying, allowing him to gain crucial time.
• Top Speed Advantage: Thanks to a trimmed rear wing, Verstappen maintained a top-speed advantage, which helped compensate for slight losses to McLaren in the second sector.
• McLaren's Strategy: While Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's McLarens showed strong pace in the second sector due to a more aggressive wing setup, they couldn't overcome the deficit from other sections of the track.
• Ferrari's Struggles: Ferrari, pushing for top speed in front of their home crowd, saw Charles Leclerc excel in the first sector. However, this came at the cost of performance in fast corners, where he lost significant time.
• Driver Skill: Despite the car's capabilities, Verstappen's precise driving and minimal errors were crucial in securing pole by the smallest of margins.

What's next

The race presents a challenge. McLaren has shown superior tyre wear management throughout the season and can leverage a two-car strategy. However, Verstappen's Red Bull has a clear top-speed advantage, which could make overtaking difficult for McLaren, especially with DRS being less decisive due to the small wings used at Monza.