Italian GP 2025
SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
Qualifying Report - Verstappen secures Monza pole over Norris
© Red Bull
Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, snatching pole position at Monza by just 0.077s ahead of McLaren rival Lando Norris. The Dutchman's after struggling last year at the circuit turned around Red Bull's performance by taking pole.
Verstappen's initial Q3 lap set the tone with a 1m18.923s, but Norris briefly moved ahead with a 1m18.869s on his second attempt. That was not enough to hold the top spot, as Verstappen responded with a 1m18.792s to secure his fifth pole of the season. Red Bull's decision to run a low-downforce setup appeared crucial, with Verstappen strong in both the first and third sectors.
Norris had endured a tense route to the final session. In Q2 he aborted an early attempt, leaving him on the brink of elimination before producing a banker lap to escape the drop zone at the expense of Haas' Oliver Bearman. Once through, Norris regained his composure and was able to challenge Verstappen, though fell just short.
Oscar Piastri backed up McLaren's speed by taking third, only 0.190s away from pole, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed fourth. The Monegasque driver had topped practice earlier in the day but could not improve on his 1m19.007s in the closing stages, denying the tifosi a front-row start.
Lewis Hamilton ensured both Ferraris were represented in the top five, edging Mercedes' George Russell by just over three hundredths of a second. Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed again on home soil in seventh place.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualified eighth for Sauber, once again outpacing team-mate Nico Hülkenberg, while Fernando Alonso gave Aston Martin ninth place. Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten, having been deployed to assist Verstappen with a slipstream in the opening run of Q3.
The cut for Q2 was tight. Bearman looked capable of advancing but missed out by three tenths, while the William's pair of Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon fell to 13th and 14th after showing stronger pace on Friday. Esteban Ocon also dropped out in the middle segment in his Haas.
Q1 claimed several notable names, including Dutch GP podium finisher Isack Hadjar, who was eliminated by Albon's late lap and classified 16th. With an engine penalty already confirmed, he will start from the pitlane tomorrow.
Lance Stroll, Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson were the others to fall at the first hurdle.
Verstappen's pole sets up a tantalising Sunday showdown, with McLaren in close pursuit and Ferrari determined to strike back in front of their home fans.