Verstappen dominates: Pole position at the Italian Grand Prix!

Verstappen dominates: Pole position at the Italian Grand Prix!

Max Verstappen took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on September 6, 2025. With a time of 1:18.792 minutes in qualifying, the Red Bull driver took the lead and relegated the two McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to second and third place. The gap between Verstappen and Norris was only 77 thousandths of a second, which makes Sunday's race, broadcast live on ServusTV and Sky, a promising duel at the top.

Verstappen expressed surprise at his outstanding performance. “I didn't think I would be so fast,” said the Dutchman, who celebrated his 45th pole position. For a long time, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, who always took second place in the three training runs, seemed to be the biggest challenger. Leclerc ultimately finished qualifying in fourth place, while Lewis Hamilton started fifth with a five-place penalty.

An exciting qualifying

Qualifying began under clear blue skies. Verstappen had to prove his skills right from the start after he had some difficulties with Lesmo 2 in Q1. Despite these problems, he positioned himself between the Ferrari drivers and secured a place at the front.

The eliminations in Q1 came as a surprise to many drivers. Williams driver Alex Albon in particular was unable to set a time due to a mistake in the first chicane, while Isack Hadjar was eliminated from qualifying early for the first time in his career. In Q2, Carlos Sainz managed to break free from the bottom half of the table before Verstappen took the lead.

Things got exciting again in Q3. Norris initially made a strong impression, but had to pit after making a mistake in a chicane. Piastri was able to set faster times, while Leclerc was unable to improve in the final laps. Finally, Verstappen proved his competitive strength and secured pole position with a new best time.

Race preview

The Italian Grand Prix is ​​known for its long straights that could favor Ferrari. Nevertheless, the McLaren drivers, especially Norris and Piastri, feel strong in the current season. Piastri currently leads the Drivers' Championship by 34 points, while Norris makes it clear that overtaking Verstappen in the race will be a challenge.

The provisional starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix is ​​as follows:

The race on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. could be exciting due to the leadership structure on the starting grid and the teams' previous development work. The competition between Verstappen and his pursuers promises to be very exciting. The last winners at Monza and the history of the track show a long-standing duel between the teams - especially Ferrari, which has achieved 20 victories at the same venue. Leclerc will certainly look to take advantage of the home advantage as the McLaren drivers aim for their first world championship.

As on-track rivalries heat up, it remains to be seen whether Verstappen can successfully convert his pole position into a victory or whether his challengers can hold a candle to him. The upcoming race is awaited with great anticipation, not only by the fans but also by the drivers themselves.

For more information, read the reports from Vienna, Planet F1 and Formula 1.de.