F1 Italian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Recap: Max Verstappen stamps his authority to pick up pole

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen picked up pole position at the Italian Grand Prix 2025, putting in a record qualifying lap to shut down the McLarens and Tifosi at Monza. The McLarens will start P2 and P3, behind Verstappen with Norris leading the McLarens while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc could manage only P4 ahead of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who finished P5 but will take a five-place grid penalty. 

If you missed the Italian Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session, here’s a quick recap.

Q1 – Alpines unable to get out of Q1; Lawson hands more headaches to Red Bull

Lewis Hamilton, in his first-ever Italian Grand Prix race for Ferrari, got the qualifying session underway, with a bittersweet feeling as he was carrying a five-place grid penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix. Hamilton slotted in P2, a tenth slower than his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who set the benchmark early on with a 1:19.801s. 

The two McLarens dislodged the Ferraris from the top, once they came out with Lando Norris going quickest with a 1:19.611s, 0.100s quicker than his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso stunned everyone with his second flying lap, going P2, just 0.047s behind Norris before George Russell’s 1:19.414s saw the Mercedes driver go quickest as the times kept falling at the Temple of Speed.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had a strong late lap to go P2, sailed into Q2 but his teammate, Liam Lawson failed to make it out of Q1 with both Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and VCARB’s Isack Hadjar also unable to make it to Q2.

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Isack Hadjar

Lance Stroll

Franco Colapinto

Pierre Gasly

Liam Lawson

Q2 – Norris, Hamilton scrape through by the skin of their teeth

Williams’ Alex Albon had a moment, going onto the gravel early on to get Q2 underway while Verstappen’s 1:19.140s set the benchmark to get the session properly going. The Mercedes and McLarens were unable to match Verstappen with young Kimi Antonelli coming closest, being 0.105s behind.

As the clock ticked off, it was Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in the drop zone and the seven-time world champion just about managed to push himself to the top 10 shootout but those missing out were Nico Hülkenberg, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, with the latter being knocked out at the last second at the expense of a struggling Lando Norris. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Ollie Bearman

Nico Hülkenberg

Carlos Sainz

Alex Albon

Esteban Ocon

Q3 – Verstappen in a league of his own

Oscar Piastri’s 1:19.056s saw the McLaren go P1 early on before Monza erupted when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc went quickest with a stunning 1:19.007s, much to the home fans’ delight. That delight was short-lived though as Max Verstappen spoilt the Tifosi party with a 1:18.923s to take provisional pole.

As the cars came out for the second and final laps, it was Lando Norris going quicker thanks to a tow from his teammate but Verstappen was having none of that as the Dutchman went even quicker to keep pole position with a 1:18.792s, with the two McLarens and two Ferraris lining up behind him. Verstappen’s pole lap of 1:18.792s also became a qualifying lap record at Monza, beating Hamilton’s 1:18.887s from 2020.

Starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix 2025 (before penalties applied):

1. Max Verstappen

2. Lando Norris

3. Oscar Piastri

4. Charles Leclerc

5. George Russell

6. Kimi Antonelli

7. Gabriel Bortoleto

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Yuki Tsunoda

10. Lewis Hamilton*

11. Ollie Bearman

12. Nico Hülkenberg

13. Carlos Sainz

14. Alex Albon

15. Esteban Ocon

16. Isack Hadjar

17. Lance Stroll

18. Franco Colapinto

19. Pierre Gasly

20. Liam Lawson

*will take a five-place grid penalty received at the Dutch Grand Prix 2025 after qualifying P5