Verstappen snatches Monza pole from both McLarens in thrilling Italian GP Qualifying

Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass at Monza to secure pole position for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, edging out Lando Norris by just 0.077s in a tense and ultra-close qualifying session. The Red Bull driver’s 1:18.792 lap in Q3 was enough to deny McLaren a front-row lockout, with Oscar Piastri slotting into third ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Qualifying Recap from the Temple of Speed

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza lived up to its reputation as the Temple of Speed, with the entire field separated by less than a second in Q1. The slipstream effect was a key talking point, and teams played high-stakes games in the pit lane to find the perfect tow.

Q1 – Shock Exits and Tight Margins

The opening segment saw several big names fall early. Both Racing Bulls were eliminated, with Isack Hadjar missing Q2 by just 0.080s and Liam Lawson making a costly mistake on his flying lap. Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, and Pierre Gasly also dropped out, confirming Alpine’s struggles on Monza’s low-downforce layout.

Carlos Sainz had an early scare when his first lap was deleted for track limits at Lesmo 2, while Alex Albon also lost a time to an off-track moment. Both Williams drivers scraped through, but it was clear they lacked the pace to challenge the front.

Q2 – Mercedes Drama and Williams Fade

George Russell looked strong, even topping the times on medium tyres at one stage, but his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli found himself under pressure. The Italian could only manage P11 in the dying moments, missing the cut for Q3. He was later cleared of a stewards’ investigation for failing to follow maximum delta time instructions.

Williams’ early promise faded as both Sainz and Albon were knocked out, joined by Nico Hülkenberg, Oliver Bearman, and Esteban Ocon.

Q3 – Verstappen Strikes Late

The final shootout was all about fine margins. Norris initially had to abort an early run after cutting a corner, but recovered to post a 1:18.869. Piastri briefly held third but couldn’t match his teammate’s pace, while Leclerc kept Ferrari in the mix with a 1:19.007.

Verstappen, who had been quietly building speed through the session, unleashed a near-perfect lap to snatch pole. His sector three time was the fastest of anyone, underlining Red Bull’s straight-line efficiency. Behind the top four, Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth but will drop five places on the grid due to a penalty from Zandvoort.

Fernando Alonso impressed with ninth for Aston Martin, while Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten.

Italian GP Qualifying – Top 10

Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – 1:18.792
Lando Norris – McLaren – +0.077
Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +0.190
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +0.215
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +0.332 (5-place grid penalty)
George Russell – Mercedes – +0.365
Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – +0.408
Gabriel Bortoleto – Kick Sauber – +0.598
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – +0.632
Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull Racing – +0.727

Key Takeaways and Analysis

Verstappen’s Precision Under Pressure

Despite McLaren’s strong form in practice, Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance when it mattered most proved decisive. His sector three advantage was the difference-maker, and Red Bull’s low-drag setup looks perfectly suited for Sunday’s race.

McLaren Still in the Fight

Norris and Piastri will start second and third, giving McLaren a real shot at controlling the race into Turn 1. However, tyre degradation and straight-line speed could tilt the balance towards Red Bull.

Ferrari’s Home Hopes

Leclerc’s P4 keeps Ferrari in contention, but Hamilton’s penalty will hurt their strategic options. The Tifosi will be hoping for a strong launch and some slipstream magic to challenge for the podium.

Midfield Surprises

Bortoleto’s P8 for Kick Sauber was one of the standout performances, aided by the team’s impressive top-speed figures. Alonso’s consistency also keeps Aston Martin in the points conversation.

With the top ten covered by less than eight tenths, the 2025 Italian Grand Prix grid is set for a slipstream-heavy battle. If today’s qualifying was anything to go by, Sunday’s race could be a Monza classic.