Ferrari's home turf seized by Verstappen's coup
In a thrilling display of driving prowess, Max Verstappen shattered the Monza track record during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver's sensational lap earned him his 45th career pole position, further cementing his status as a formidable force in Formula 1.
Verstappen's dominance was unbeatable in the final round of qualifying, with teammate Pierre Gasly and Oscar Piastri of Alpine trailing behind. Interestingly, Verstappen currently trails Piastri by a substantial 104 points in the standings, with Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate at McLaren, chasing the championship lead.
Norris, who was eager to redeem himself after a disappointing weekend in the Netherlands, faced a setback during the qualifying session. A spin while attempting a fast lap in the second segment forced him to abort the attempt, leaving him second on the timesheet, 77 thousandths of a second behind Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who started from the back due to a penalty from Zandvoort, managed to qualify fifth for the race. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari qualified fourth, causing a stir in the battle of the fastest ten but ultimately unable to keep up with Verstappen and the defending champion on his first attempt.
The Ferrari cars, including those driven by Hamilton and Leclerc, were painted in a new, old-fashioned livery to honour Niki Lauda's first world title, which he won at Monza in 1975.
Helmut Marko, the motorsport advisor at Red Bull Racing, praised Verstappen's performance, particularly his impressive showing in the last sector. "Max was brilliant," Marko commented during the Formula 1 race week in Monza.
In the earlier stages of qualifying, Hamilton ended the first segment in first place, with George Russell in the Mercedes close behind. However, the knockout qualifying on the high-speed circuit proved to be tight, with several drivers eager to make their mark.
Nico Hülkenberg in the Sauber was eliminated, unlike his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto. The Scuderia duo had given the tifosi hope during practice, but the pressure of the qualifying session proved too much.
As the dust settles ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he seeks to continue his impressive form and extend his lead in the championship.
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