— Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza during Saturday qualifying, setting a new pole lap benchmark as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the front row.
Key takeaways
- Max Verstappen took pole for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza and recorded a new qualifying lap record.
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third respectively, locking out the front row behind Verstappen.
- The session took place on 6 September 2025 as part of Round 16 of the 2025 F1 season in Monza.
- Mercedes described their performance as below expectations; George Russell said the team had “definitely underperformed.”
- Williams reported tyre-related problems during qualifying and said the team had “tried everything” to find grip.
- Friday running showed competitive pace from McLaren, with Norris posting strong times ahead of qualifying.
Verified facts
Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix took place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Saturday, 6 September 2025. Max Verstappen emerged fastest in Q3 to claim pole position; team and media coverage noted that his lap set a new pole-period benchmark at the circuit, earning the Pirelli Pole Position Award honor for the session.
The top three qualifiers were Verstappen (pole), Lando Norris (P2) and Oscar Piastri (P3). Both Norris and Piastri delivered strong single-lap pace for McLaren, securing a front-row presence that will influence Sunday’s starting grid and early-race dynamics.
Mercedes drivers underperformed relative to expectations in qualifying. George Russell publicly described the team’s showing as below par, while other team sources indicated the package struggled for outright single-lap grip at Monza’s high-speed layout.
Williams flagged tyre difficulties during the session. Team briefings after qualifying indicated engineers worked through multiple setup and tyre options in an attempt to improve grip; the team described those efforts as comprehensive but ultimately constrained by the issues encountered.
Context & impact
Monza’s long straights and low-downforce setups make qualifying trim crucial: starting order often determines the opening laps and can heavily influence tyre strategy. Verstappen’s pole and record lap strengthen Red Bull’s starting advantage heading into Sunday’s race.
McLaren’s strong qualifying performance underlines its single-lap competitiveness at Monza. If the team converts that pace into a successful race strategy, it could challenge Red Bull off the line and through the pit-stop window.
For Mercedes, a sub-par qualifying raises questions about race pace and setup choices. The team will need to find performance gains overnight to recover track position or benefit from strategy calls during the Grand Prix.
Potential race implications
- Track position at Monza is especially valuable; a clean start for Verstappen could convert pole into a race lead.
- McLaren’s front-row lockout increases the chance of an early inter-team battle that may influence tyre wear for the leaders.
- Teams reporting tyre struggles will face harder strategic choices on stint length and compound selection.
Official statements
“We definitely underperformed in qualifying and need to find answers overnight,”
George Russell / Mercedes
“We tried everything to get the tyres working today,”
Williams team representative
Unconfirmed
- No independent confirmation yet of any specific mechanical failures beyond team statements about tyre-related issues.
- Detailed internal assessments and any setup changes planned overnight by teams remain unconfirmed until official briefings before the race.
Bottom line
Max Verstappen’s pole and record lap give Red Bull a clear starting advantage for the Italian Grand Prix, while McLaren’s Norris and Piastri provide the main immediate threat from the front row. Mercedes and other teams must address qualifying shortfalls and tyre concerns ahead of Sunday’s race at Monza.