Formula 1

Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying: Max Verstappen Produces Fastest Lap En Route Pole

It takes something special to beat McLaren this year. And that's what Max Verstappen produced on Saturday (September 6, 2025) as he stunned title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri by snatching pole position for the Italian Grand Prix Formula One race with the fastest lap ever at Monza. Verstappen set a new lap record in the final part of qualifying for Sunday’s race and Norris couldn’t quite match it, ending up .077 of a second behind the Red Bull driver, with Piastri 0.190 off the pace. Charles Leclerc — who won at Monza last year and in 2019 — qualified in fourth for Ferrari at the Italian Scuderia’s home race, just ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who will start Sunday’s race in 10th as he serves a five-place grid penalty.

2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Max Verstappen
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands poses with the pole position award after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Qualifying_Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, centre, celebrates his pole position with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Max Verstappen
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Red Bull driver Max Verstappen
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: Marco Bertorello/Pool Photo via AP

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands returns to the parc ferme after winning the pole position in the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: Marco Bertorello/Pool Photo via AP

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso of Spain steers his car on the pit lane during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_McLaren driver Oscar Piastri
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Max Verstappen of the Netherlands
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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2025 Formula One Italian Grand Prix Auto Race Qualifying_Lando Norris of Britain
Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying | Photo: AP/Luca Bruno

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy.

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