Max Verstappen‘s pole position for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix may have come as a surprise to some, but not to his immediate rivals.
The Dutchman’s blistering last-gasp lap at Monza not only saw him leapfrog the title-chasing McLaren drivers, but also record the fastest lap of all time.
2025 has, by comparison, been a tough year for Verstappen, having won only two Grands Prix and his title defence all but over.
But it was another instance of the Red Bull man pulling a rabbit out of the hat when it was least expected, but his competitors are too smart to be complacent when he is around.
The four drivers who qualified immediately beneath Verstappen all shared the same lack of surprise that he came out on top.
“No, no. Max has been quick all weekend, and it’s never a surprise with Max,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
The Briton, looking to reinvigorate his title bid this weekend, had to be content with second place.
“I mean, it was quite a session for me – just up and down and too many mistakes here and there,” he added.
“But to put it all together on the last lap, I was pretty happy. So I’m happy with P2.”
Oscar Piastri, who had to settle for a place on the second row with third place, will line up directly behind Verstappen on the clean side of the grid.
The Australian felt that McLaren’s closest contenders might be Ferrari, but alas, it was Verstappen who emerged from the shadows to spring his trump card.
But his logic was based upon Red Bull’s disastrous showing at Monza 12 months ago, and conceded Verstappen’s presence on pole is still not much of a shock.
“Was Max at the top of my list of our competitors going into this weekend? I thought maybe Ferrari would be closer, but that’s based off last year,” Piastri said.
“Generally, when the competition’s got close, Max has normally been the one that’s been the closest. So I don’t think it’s a massive surprise, but compared to last year it is a little bit.”
Ferrari unsurprised by Verstappen’s Monza supremacy
Charles Leclerc initially had the hopes of the partisan crowd up when he took provisional pole as he crossed the line to complete his opening timed attempt in Q3.
But both McLarens managed to snatch it away from him, before Verstappen compounded the Monegasque’s disappointment by condemning him to fourth place.
“Not really. Yesterday with our simulations we kind of already had him [Verstappen] being very, very strong,” Leclerc commented.
“He also sounded quite confident yesterday media-wise.”
Leclerc admitted it might have been a surprise based on his impressions, like Piastri’s, before free practice, but one eye was on Red Bull once cars were out on track on Friday.
“So we kind of expected them to be very strong. It was a surprise in that if you had asked me before the weekend I wouldn’t have expected Red Bull to be so strong.
“But after Friday we understood that they had done a massive turnaround compared to last year when they were struggling.”
Lewis Hamilton knows Verstappen of old, and cited the RB21’s improvements and its nous around high-speed corners, as a key to helping him secure top spot.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m surprised,” he echoed. “He’s had the World Championship-winning car for, God knows how long, so you know how good he is on a single lap.
“But I think their car is particularly good in the high-speed corners and the middle sector onwards.
“They’re very efficient as well on the straight line, so I think it’s the most efficient car on the straight line. Great job.”
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