Max Verstappen pulled off a shocking display of dominance at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Saturday, claiming pole position for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix with a blistering lap of 1:18.792.
The Red Bull driver edged McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.077 seconds in a tense qualifying session, leaving Ferrari fans stunned in their home stronghold.
⭐️ FASTEST LAP IN F1 HISTORY ⭐️#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/UyULK6N1xh
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2025
Max Verstappen Breaks the Monza Record
In a stunning display of skill and engineering prowess, Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing has claimed the fastest lap in Formula 1 history during the qualifying session for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The Dutch driver posted an average speed of 264.682 km/h, eclipsing Lewis Hamilton’s previous record of 264.362 km/h set in 2020 by a mere 0.320 km/h, a difference of just 0.095 seconds.
On Thursday, Hamilton had asked what the fastest lap at Monza was, and two days later, Verstappen answered on track. His precision through the Lesmos, raw pace down the straights, and late braking into Parabolica left fans and rivals alike in awe.
Fans Celebrate Verstappen’s Brilliance
Fans online were quick to celebrate Max Verstappen’s performance. EmenaIo declared, “By pulling that off on enemy territory in a tractor, this confirms it, Verstappen is the greatest driver of all time.”
Dimitrios Paolo added, “Just when the entire world starts doubting him, the champ keeps on proving why he’s the greatest F1 driver of all time.”
AchalG9 wrote “The best driver on the grid delivers when it matters. Both laps in Q3 were out of this world. Congratulations Max for becoming the driver with the most number of poles with Red Bull.”
The pole also marked another milestone in Verstappen’s career, making him the driver with the most poles in Red Bull history.
Ferrari Struggles as McLaren Pushes
Ferrari briefly looked poised to reclaim glory when Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets early with a 1:19.007, only to be overtaken by Verstappen’s late surge. Leclerc will start fourth on Sunday, a disappointment for the Tifosi who had filled the stands in anticipation of a home victory.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris secured second and third, continuing their season-long momentum, while Mercedes newcomer Kimi Antonelli impressed with a fifth-place qualifying result.
The starting grid for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix 👀#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/OLuKiAUhH0
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2025
Lewis Hamilton, who had initially posted the fifth-fastest lap, will start tenth after a five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag violation at Zandvoort, pushing George Russell and others further up the starting order.
Post-qualifying, Norris admitted frustration but acknowledged Max Verstappen’s exceptional performance, calling him “a beast,” while Leclerc praised the fight at the front despite the setback. Red Bull’s recent leadership change, with Laurent Mekies replacing Christian Horner earlier this summer, has sparked debate, but Verstappen’s pole suggests the team remains capable of extraordinary results.
As the sun set over Monza, Max Verstappen stood as the defining story of the day. On Sunday, he will attempt to convert pole into victory, chase his third win of the season, and continue cementing his legacy.
With a record-setting lap, ground-breaking engineering, and another milestone in Red Bull’s history, Max Verstappen reminded the racing world why he is considered among the greatest drivers of all time.
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