— Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with a new lap record, posting a 1:18.792 lap (average 164.46 mph) in Saturday qualifying and setting him up to lead Sunday’s race.
Key Takeaways
- Max Verstappen took pole at Monza with a record 1:18.792 lap, averaging 164.46 mph.
- This is Verstappen’s fifth pole position of the 2025 season.
- Verstappen briefly lost top spot to Lando Norris before reclaiming it on his final run.
- Starting on pole does not guarantee victory this season; Verstappen’s last win from pole was the April Japanese Grand Prix.
- McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pose the strongest challenge for Sunday’s race.
- Yuki Tsunoda reached Q3 and will start 10th; he reported losing the slipstream advantage in the final runs.
Verified Facts
During the final segment of qualifying (Q3) at Monza, Verstappen set the quickest timed lap at 1:18.792, which was recorded as a new circuit lap record. The lap’s average speed was listed as 164.46 mph. This result marks his fifth pole of the 2025 campaign and places him at the front of the grid for the Italian Grand Prix.
Earlier in Q3, Lando Norris produced a late run that briefly moved him ahead on the timesheet. Verstappen responded with a final attempt to re-establish pole. Timing sheets confirm the order change and the final lap time recorded for Verstappen.
Red Bull’s weekend at Monza showed performance gains: Verstappen said the car felt more stable across the practice and qualifying sessions, enabling a stronger attack in the decisive laps. Statutory records show Verstappen’s most recent win from pole this season occurred at the Japanese Grand Prix in April.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda advanced into Q3 for the second time in ten races and will start the race from 10th. Tsunoda explained that leading the final run group deprived him of a slipstream effect, which is commonly influential on Monza’s long straights.
Context & Impact
Monza is a low-downforce, high-speed circuit where tow and slipstream can substantially affect lap times. Securing pole at this track requires a precise balance between straight-line speed and stability under braking, and small setup tweaks can yield measurable gains in qualifying.
While pole gives a clean starting place, the 2025 season has frequently seen races unfold differently from qualifying order. Tire management, DRS windows, and the frequent effectiveness of slipstreaming in the pack mean race strategy and in-lap positioning will be decisive factors on Sunday.
McLaren’s strong showing in qualifying, led by Norris and Oscar Piastri, suggests Red Bull cannot assume an untroubled morning. Expect close early laps and strategic variation as teams weigh the benefit of an aggressive opening stint versus a longer, controlled tyre plan.
“Happy with the laps, and of course to be on pole here for us is fantastic,” Verstappen said after qualifying, adding that minor setup changes helped him extract a bit more from the car.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Unconfirmed
- How tyre strategy will ultimately play out for each team remains uncertain until race start and pit stop windows are executed.
- The exact magnitude of slipstream benefit for each car in race trim is track- and position-dependent and cannot be fully predicted from qualifying.
Bottom Line
Verstappen’s record lap at Monza secures him pole and a momentum boost for Sunday, but historical patterns this season and strong McLaren pace mean the race outcome is not settled. Expect a tactical opening phase where slipstream, pit timing and tyre management will shape the top positions.