Max Verstappen Breaks Hamilton's Speed Record, Jokes About Mercedes W11 After Monza Pole

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, not only beating the McLarens but also making F1 history by setting the fastest average speed lap ever recorded.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's dominant performance highlights Red Bull's continued strength and his exceptional skill, securing his place in the record books and setting the stage for a strong race.

The details:

• Record-breaking lap: Verstappen's pole lap of 1:18.792 averaged 264.682 km/h (164.47 mph), surpassing Lewis Hamilton's 2020 Monza pole lap by 0.095 seconds.
• Previous record: Hamilton's record, set in the all-conquering Mercedes W11, averaged 264.363 km/h (164.268 mph).
• Verstappen's joke: Reflecting on the achievement, Verstappen light-heartedly commented, "New asphalt, different kerbs, so the track has become faster. I think you'll go even faster if you put the 2020 Mercedes here, especially if you put me in the car!"

A turnaround from last year:

This year's qualifying session marked a significant improvement for the Dutchman compared to 12 months ago, when he could only manage seventh on the grid at Monza.

• Improved car: Verstappen credited adjustments made during the day, which provided more stability for his RB21. "Both the laps in Q3 were just good. The feeling was okay, in some places better than elsewhere. In Q2, I did have a slipstream from someone, so that gave a bit of a bias. But then we made good strides in Q3."
• Learning from experience: He emphasized the difference from last year's RB20, describing it as "real drama" where the car was uncontrollable. "Now it's just a little bit better. You can go into corners a little bit more stable; it turns a little bit better. And of course, we also learned a lot from last year. A lot of things have been changed on the car as well."