Max Verstappen made Formula 1 history at Monza, delivering the fastest lap ever recorded in F1 to claim a shock pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman stopped the clock at 1m18.792s, breaking Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 benchmark of 1m18.887 in the Mercedes W11. It was also his 46th career pole for Red Bull, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s tally.
In a nail-biting Q3, Verstappen edged Lando Norris by just 0.077s. Norris had briefly taken the track record himself moments earlier, only to be obliterated by Verstappen’s final effort.
The lap wasn’t just a record for Monza — it was the fastest in F1 history by average speed: 264.681 km/h.
Verstappen explained after sealing pole:
“These cars are pretty decent in the high-speed, they are quite quick in a straight line. Of course the low speed is where we lose out compared to the previous generation [of cars]. Some tracks you can do these lap records now. Honestly I didn’t even think about that when I crossed the line but it’s nice. It didn’t feel too bad. Of course the new tarmac helps around here, the kerbs opened up a little bit. I think the 2020 Mercedes is still quicker if you would put it on the track now.”
Rosberg: “Unbelievable what Max can do”
2016 world champion Nico Rosberg hailed Verstappen’s brilliance:
“We know he is one of the five greatest F1 drivers of all time. Drives like today just prove that. It’s unbelievable what he’s able to do. I don’t think the car was worthy to be on pole position in that way but he just pulled out the magic in the last moment. And especially in the last moment when the pressure is the highest, that is when he delivered phenomenally perfect laps.”
Fellow pundit Jamie Chadwick added:
“It’s a nightmare for us because we always don’t think he’s going to end up there but you can never count him out. That’s what’s so impressive, especially with how close these sessions are, everything has to be on the line, every little detail has to be perfect on that lap and that’s what he’s the best at doing – extracting it when it matters most.”
