World champion Max Verstappen has produced the fastest lap in Formula 1 history to snatch pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.077 seconds, with drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri qualifying third fastest.
Verstappen took pole with a time of 1:18.792, a new lap record, at Monza.
His average speed on that pole lap was 264.68kph, the fastest lap ever completed in F1, beating Lewis Hamilton’s average speed of 264.362kph set at Monza in 2020.
“I think around here with the low downforce, it is always difficult to nail the lap,” Verstappen said after qualifying.
“We made some final changes that allowed me to push a bit more,
“For us, it is a great moment.”
Like last week in the Netherlands, Norris briefly held the track record before it was bettered just moments later.
Norris enters this weekend with a 34-point deficit to his teammate and championship rival Piastri, after retiring last week with a mechanical failure.
Piastri will start Sunday’s race on the second row, after securing his seventh grand prix win last weekend.
“It has just been incredibly tight this weekend,” the Australian said.
“Max and Red Bull have been quick all weekend.
“The result is not a big surprise, but I would like to be a little bit further up.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth fastest, with teammate Lewis Hamilton posting the fifth fastest time.
However, Hamilton will start 10th after receiving a five-place grid penalty from an incident last weekend in the Netherlands.
When does the F1 Italian Grand Prix begin?
The Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, September 7.
Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia’s states and territories.
- AEST: 11pm: NSW, Vic, Qld, Tas, ACT
- ACST: 10:30pm: South Australia and Northern Territory
- AWST: 9pm: Western Australia.
How can I watch the F1 Italian Grand Prix?
Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo will be broadcasting the Italian Grand Prix.
Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506.
You can also follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis.
What do I need to know about the track?
Few race tracks in the world are more beloved than the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. It is known as the Temple of Speed for a reason.
F1 drivers are completing this 5,793 metre circuit in rapid time — less than 80 seconds for several drivers during qualifying last year.
Lando Norris had an average speed of 263kph for his pole lap in 2024.
Illustration of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix. (F1)
The cars are at full throttle for around 80 per cent of the lap, so the best overtaking chances are in the hard-braking zones.
The chicane of turns one and two are a great passing opportunity, at the end of a DRZ zone.
Shaped like a boot, the start of the lap is a long straight before a hard-braking chicane for turns 1 and two. This is an excellent overtaking opportunity, coming after one of the DRS zones.
The chicane of turns four and five presents the next best chance for a pass. Oscar Piastri made a brilliant move on his teammate Norris at this chicane last year.
Turn eight, at the end of the second DRS zone, is another opportunity for a driver to lunge up the inside and take a position.
The final corner, turn 11, is a one of the great sights in F1. Drivers are getting on the power as early as they can while still turning the car, trying to make sure they can reach their maximum top speed on the start-finish straight.
Fast facts about the F1 Italian Grand Prix
- First grand prix — 1950
- Number of laps — 53
- Lap distance — 5,793 metres
- Race distance — 306.720 kilometres
- Fastest lap (in race) — 1:21.046 Rubens Barrichello (2004)
ABC Sport will have a live blog of the F1 Italian Grand Prix, from 9pm AEST on Sunday, September 7.
