Verstappen Claims Historic Pole Position at Monza with Record-Breaking Speed
Max Verstappen continued to showcase his dominance in Formula 1 by securing pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, marking his fifth pole of the season and setting a new fastest lap record in F1 history at an astonishing 264.682 km/h (164.466 mph).
On a scorching hot day at the iconic “Temple of Speed,” Verstappen outpaced his rivals, including McLaren drivers Lando Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will start in second and third positions, respectively. This achievement also saw Verstappen match Sebastian Vettel’s record of 45 poles for Red Bull Racing, while the team itself celebrated its 108th pole position, passing Lotus on the all-time list.
Despite Verstappen’s strong performance, it’s worth noting that no driver has won from pole at Monza in the last five Grands Prix, adding an intriguing twist to tomorrow’s race.
Key Qualifying Highlights:
– Lando Norris out-qualified teammate Oscar Piastri for the first time since Belgium, with his Q3 lap nearly breaking the previous fastest lap record.
– Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, the same position from which he won last year’s race, while Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth, will start tenth due to a five-place grid penalty.
– George Russell will take Hamilton’s place in fifth for the second consecutive race.
– Kimi Antonelli achieved his highest grid position since finishing on the podium in Canada, starting sixth.
– Fernando Alonso qualified ninth but will start eighth, marking his best Monza start since 2022.
– Yuki Tsunoda also set a personal record with his best-ever start at Monza, lining up ninth.
Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “The car felt incredible, and I’m excited for the race. We know that Monza can be unpredictable, but I believe we have a strong chance.”
