Verstappen Secures Surprise Monza Pole, Warns McLaren
Summary
Max Verstappen snatched a surprise pole at Monza, outperforming McLaren. Despite challenging statistics for pole-sitters, he's ready for a fierce fight.
Max Verstappen unexpectedly claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, stunning McLaren and the Tifosi alike. The Red Bull driver delivered a flawless lap, placing McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in second and third.
Why it matters
This marks Verstappen's 45th career pole and fifth of the season, a significant achievement, yet history at Monza shows a challenging path for pole-sitters.
The big picture
- It's Verstappen's second pole at Monza since 2021 and Red Bull's 108th overall.
- "I'm very pleased with this result," Verstappen stated after qualifying. "It's always tricky to put together a clean lap with low downforce, but the car performed better than expected. In the final segment, the handling was excellent, allowing me to push hard."
- However, Red Bull has often struggled in race trim. Also, the last five pole-sitters at Monza have not won, with Charles Leclerc being the last to convert pole into victory in 2019. The overall win rate from pole at Monza is under 40 percent.
What's next
Despite the statistics, Verstappen issued a clear warning to McLaren: "I will make it as difficult as possible in the Grand Prix." The "Temple of Speed" is set for a thrilling race.
Original Article :https://f1-insider.com/formel-1-verstappen-warnt-mclaren-monza-69821/