Max Verstappen delivered a record-breaking lap on Saturday to seize pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap in Formula One history and reminding rivals why he remains the man to beat.
The Dutchman’s lap of 1 minute 18.792 seconds averaged 164.466 mph, beating Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 Monza record by 0.095 seconds. It also edged McLaren’s Lando Norris, who briefly topped the timesheets, by just 0.077 seconds.
“This feels amazing,” Verstappen said after climbing out of his Red Bull car with a clenched fist. “It’s always hard to nail the lap here. Q3 felt good, and the car was much better this weekend. To be on pole at Monza is a great moment.”
The pole is Verstappen’s first since July’s British Grand Prix and comes despite struggles in practice, where Red Bull lagged behind Ferrari and McLaren. His unexpected speed raised hopes of a turnaround in a season where he has won only two races so far, most recently at Imola in May.
Norris, who briefly broke Hamilton’s record with his own lap of 1:18.869, admitted it was tough to accept being edged out. “It’s never a surprise with Max. I didn’t do the best job, but I’m happy with P2. Passing him won’t be easy, especially with Ferrari breathing down our necks tomorrow,” he said.
McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri was third, only 0.113 seconds slower than Norris, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five. Hamilton, however, carries a five-place grid penalty, meaning he will start 10th, giving Mercedes’ George Russell fifth on the grid.
The partisan Monza crowd roared as Ferrari cars emerged, but the tifosi were left disappointed when neither Leclerc nor Hamilton improved on their final runs. “The energy here is unreal,” Hamilton said. “The penalty hurts, but I’ll try to fight my way forward.”
A surprise performance came from Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in ninth. “Honestly, we didn’t expect this. To be in Q3 was a surprise,” Alonso admitted. “The tyre prep made the difference.”
With Verstappen back on top speed, Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix promises a tense battle between Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari at the Temple of Speed.
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