Max Verstappen pips Lando Norris for Italian F1 Grand Prix pole

Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza for Red Bull, beating the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third. He claimed the top spot after a fiercely competitive session in the Lombardy sunshine on the high-speed challenge of the fastest circuit of the F1 season.

Charles Leclerc took fourth, with his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton in fifth but who will start in 10th, having incurred a five-place grid penalty at the Dutch GP.

There was nothing to between them at the very front of the field and with even Ferrari looking hugely competitive at their home race, the margins were tiny and the top spot was in the hands briefly of the frontrunners, only for Verstappen to come through at the last repeatedly to clinch pole, ultimately by just seven-hundredths of a second, a remarkable effort in a car that is not ordinarily able to compete with the dominant McLarens.

He did so with what was not only a new lap record but also with the fastest lap in F1 history, averaging over 160mph. His 45th pole was also a record for any driver at Red Bull.

The pole was a remarkable achievement for Verstappen, given their travails with the car and at a track where the Red Bull has struggled in the past but where nonetheless he did take two wins when the team were dominant in 2022 and 2023.

For Verstappen, his fifth pole of the year will go a little way to once more provide a solid base and optimism as the team adapts after the dismissal of former team principal Christian Horner and his replacement by Laurent Mekies. The pole was Mekies’ first as Red Bull team principal.

Before the summer break Verstappen had put an end to the speculation that he would be leaving the team by confirming he would definitely be driving for them next year, even if he did not go quite as far as saying he would stick out his contract to 2028.

As the track had been rubbering in each and every sequence of laps was making it quicker and quicker and taking advantage in going out as late as possible was proving vital. Red Bull duly timed Verstappen’s runs with beautiful precision.

Early in Q3 Norris put in a strong second sector and set the pace with a lap of 1minute 19.433 seconds but he was followed by Piastri who went comfortably quicker, only for Leclerc to be greeted with an absolutely enormous roar as he took provisional pole with a 1min 18.932 sec. However it was not quite enough as Verstappen went quicker still by just eight hundredths of a second in what was a hugely tight opening sally.

With just two tenths across the top four the final laps were set to be tight but neither Leclerc nor Hamilton could improve. Norris then put in his best lap of the afternoon to go quickest, only for Verstappen to find another level altogether and go marginally better. He finished with a 1min 18.792sec lap, only seven hundredths in front of Norris, who had at least put himself ahead of his teammate, vital for his title hopes.
The British driver now trails Piastri by 34 points in the championship, after having to retire at the last round in Zandvoort.