Monza witnessed a breathtaking qualifying session for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen stormed to pole position with a record-breaking lap, edging McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Verstappen sets new Monza record and marks his fifth pole of the season, signaling strong race pace for Red Bull.
Early Q1 Action and Fastest Laps
The session kicked off with Ferrari drivers showing strong pace. Charles Leclerc set an early benchmark of 1:19.801, narrowly ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen split the Ferrari duo with 1:19.812, while Norris vaulted to P1 with a 1:19.611 lap, 0.1 seconds clear of Piastri. Mercedes’ George Russell soon leapt to P1 on Medium tyres with a 1:19.414 lap, revealing the track’s rapid improvement.
Q2 Battles and Rising Tensions
Verstappen surged early in Q2, posting a 1:19.140 lap for provisional P1. Piastri followed closely in P3, while Norris faced a setback with a lap deletion after cutting a chicane. The McLaren driver recovered with a final flyer to secure Q3, demonstrating tactical patience and raw speed. Isack Hadjar, Lance Stroll, and Haas’ Esteban Ocon failed to progress, ending their qualifying early.
Q3 Drama and Record-Breaking Lap
The final runs delivered edge-of-your-seat action. Norris initially looked set for pole with a 1:18.869 lap, just ahead of Piastri. Leclerc briefly took top spot at 1:19.007, but Verstappen unleashed a 1:18.792 lap, smashing the Monza record. The Dutchman’s fifth pole of the season and 45th career pole edged him past Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 benchmark.
McLaren and Ferrari Battle
Norris and Piastri completed the front row and second row respectively, with Leclerc fourth. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured P5 and P6. Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in P7 for Sauber, while Alonso took P8 for Aston Martin. Tsunoda qualified P10 but will start P9 due to Hamilton’s grid penalty.
Summary
Verstappen’s performance confirms Red Bull’s dominance at Monza. McLaren showed impressive pace, while Ferrari remains a threat. Pole position sets the stage for an intense Italian GP with mere tenths separating the front-runners.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 7 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 9 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 14 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 16 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 17 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 18 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 19 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 20 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
Disclaimer: Results are from official Formula 1 qualifying timings and may not reflect race performance.