Max Verstappen pips Lando Norris for Italian F1 Grand Prix pole

Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Red Bull driver beating the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third after a fiercely competitive session in the Lombardy sunshine at the fastest circuit of the F1 season.

Charles Leclerc took fourth, with his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton fifth but who will start in 10th, having incurred a five-place grid penalty at the Dutch Grand Prix.

There was nothing between the frontrunners at the very front of the field with even Ferrari looking hugely competitive at their home race. The margins were tiny and the top spot changed hands frequently, only for Verstappen to come through at the last to clinch pole by just seven-hundredths of a second, a remarkable effort in a car that is not ordinarily able to compete with the dominant McLarens.

He did so with not only a new lap record but also the fastest lap in F1 history, averaging more than 160mph. His 45th pole was also a record for any driver at Red Bull.

The pole was a remarkable achievement for Verstappen, given Red Bull’s travails with the car and at a track where the team has often struggled in the past.

Verstappen’s fifth pole of the year will go a little way to provide optimism as the team adapts after the dismissal of former team principal Christian Horner and his replacement by Laurent Mekies. The pole was Mekies’ first as Red Bull team principal.

Before the summer break Verstappen had put an end to any speculation about his future by confirming he would definitely be driving for Red Bull next year, even if he did not go quite as far as saying he would stick out his contract to 2028.

As the track became quicker due to rubbering after every sequence of laps it was vital to take full advantage by going out as late as possible. Red Bull duly timed Verstappen’s runs with beautiful precision.

Early in Q3 Norris put in a strong second sector and set the pace with a lap of 1 minute 19.433 seconds but he was followed by Piastri who went comfortably quicker, only for Leclerc to be greeted with an enormous roar as he took provisional pole in 1min 18.932 sec. However it was not quite enough as Verstappen went quicker still by eight hundredths of a second.

With just two tenths across the top four the final laps were set to be tight but neither Leclerc nor Hamilton could improve. Norris then put in his best lap of the afternoon to go quickest, only for Verstappen to find another level and go marginally better. He finished with a 1min 18.792sec lap, only seven hundredths in front of Norris, who had at least put himself ahead of his teammate, vital for his title hopes. The British driver trails Piastri by 34 points in the championship, after having to retire at the last round in Zandvoort.