Verstappen Claims Italian Grand Prix Pole in Thrilling Qualifying Session
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A nail-bitingly close qualifying session at the Italian Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing secure pole position, edging out McLarenS Lando Norris by a mere 0.077 seconds. The performance sets the stage for a captivating race on Sunday.
Verstappen’s blistering lap time underscores his continued dominance, but the qualifying results reveal a fiercely competitive field. Norris, in turn, narrowly bested his teammate and championship contender, Oscar Piastri, demonstrating McLaren’s growing strength.
Ferrari and Mercedes Battle for Position
Ferrari will carry the hopes of the tifosi into the race, with Charles Leclerc starting from fourth position. However,a penalty has relegated Lewis Hamilton,who initially qualified directly behind Leclerc,to 10th on the grid due to a yellow-flag infringement incurred at the previous round.
This reshuffling promotes the Mercedes of george Russell and Italian rising star Kimi Antonelli to the third row. The presence of Antonelli, a local favorite, adds an extra layer of excitement for the home crowd.
Surprise Performances and Pit Lane Starts
A standout performance came from Gabriel Bortoleto,the Kick Sauber rookie,who secured an impressive seventh place. He will start just ahead of his experienced manager, Fernando Alonso, driving for aston Martin. Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull rounds out the top ten.
Several teams face challenges heading into the race. Racing Bulls endured a challenging qualifying, with Liam Lawson qualifying in last place and Isack Hadjar, a podium finisher in the previous race, starting from the pit lane after a power unit change. Similarly, Pierre Gasly of Alpine will also begin the race from the pit lane, also due to a new power unit installation, despite originally qualifying 19th – one spot behind teammate Franco Colapinto.
The 2025 Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 1500 local time. Fans can follow all the action with live coverage starting at 1400.
