Verstappen Snatches Monza Pole from Norris in Thrilling Qualifying
Summary
Max Verstappen snatched pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, beating Lando Norris by 0.077s. Oscar Piastri starts third, setting up a thrilling race at Monza where Verstappen also set a new lap record.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in a thrilling qualifying session at Monza, narrowly beating Lando Norris. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start from third.
Why it matters
Verstappen's last-gasp pole demonstrates his exceptional skill and Red Bull's raw pace, even as McLaren shows significant improvement. This result sets up a crucial Sunday race for the Drivers' Championship, with Piastri aiming to protect his 34-point lead over Norris.
The details
- Norris had a scare, narrowly avoiding Q2 elimination, but took provisional pole late in Q3.
- Verstappen's final flying lap was a superb effort, beating Norris by just 0.077 seconds and setting a new lap record at Monza, also achieving the fastest lap by average speed in F1 history.
- Local favorites Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc, could only manage fourth. Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth but will start 10th due to a five-place grid penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix for not slowing under yellow flags.
- George Russell secured sixth, followed by Kimi Antonelli in seventh, Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth, Fernando Alonso in ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda in tenth.
- Isack Hadjar, fresh from his maiden F1 podium, suffered an early Q1 elimination and will start from the pit lane after a power unit change.
What's next
The Italian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, where the battle for victory and championship points will unfold on the iconic Monza circuit.
Original Article :https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13425959/italian-gp-max-verstappen-snatc...
