Sat Sep 06 15:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Verstappen Shatters Record, Takes Pole at Monza as McLarens Close Behind
**Monza, Italy -** Max Verstappen set a blistering new track record at Monza, clocking in at 1:18.792 to secure pole position for the Italian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver surpassed Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 record, setting the fastest ever lap in Formula 1 history at 164.484mph.
McLaren showed strong pace, with Lando Norris qualifying second, just 0.077 seconds behind Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri securing third place. The two McLarens will be looking to challenge Verstappen for the win on Sunday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, much to the delight of the Tifosi, followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton in fifth. However, Hamilton will drop to 10th due to a five-place grid penalty carried over from last weekend, promoting George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda up the order.
“The car has been working better the whole weekend,” said Verstappen. “For us, it’s a great moment.”
Norris acknowledged Verstappen’s pace, stating, “Max has been quick all weekend, and it’s never a surprise with Max,” and expressed optimism for the race: “Our race on Sunday is normally our strength… It’s a long race, anything can happen, so we’ll see what we can do.”
Leclerc, reflecting on his qualifying performance, said, “I knew my lap was…as close as what I would want to do during a qualifying lap.” He remains cautiously optimistic about the race, stating, “If we win tomorrow I will be surprised, but never say never.”
Despite his penalty, Hamilton remains upbeat, highlighting the progress made by his team. “I’m really really happy with the progress we’ve made… We’ve been right there and within a tenth, so we’ve just got to keep working on it.”
The Italian Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling race, with Verstappen aiming to convert his pole position into a victory, while McLaren hopes to challenge the Red Bull dominance, and Ferrari looks to impress on home soil.
First Piper 