Verstappen Hailed as All-Time Great by Speechless Rosberg

Verstappen Pulls Off Stunning Last-Minute Pole at Monza, Leaving McLaren Disappointed

Max Verstappen spoiled McLaren’s party with a breathtaking final qualifying lap to grab pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion pulled out a magical 1:18.792 in the dying moments of Q3, edging out Lando Norris by just 77 thousandths of a second.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. McLaren looked set for another front-row lockout with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri showing dominant pace throughout the session.

“We know he is one of the five greatest F1 drivers of all time. Drives like today just prove that. It’s unbelievable what he’s able to do,” said former world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports, clearly amazed by what he’d just witnessed.

The Red Bull car hasn’t been at its dominant best lately.

“I don’t think the car was worthy to be on pole position in that way but he just pulled out the magic in the last moment,” Rosberg added.

What makes Verstappen’s performance even more impressive is how he delivers when it matters most.

“And especially in the last moment when the pressure is the highest, that’s when he delivered phenomenally perfect laps,” said the 2016 world champion.

This marks Verstappen’s fifth pole of the season, but his first since the British Grand Prix at Silverstone back in July – a sign that Red Bull’s once-overwhelming advantage has been slipping.

After climbing out of the car, Verstappen explained what helped him edge out both McLarens when it mattered most. The Dutchman seemed to find something extra in the final sector that neither McLaren driver could match.

Tomorrow’s race now sets up a fascinating battle between the defending champion and the resurgent McLaren team, with Norris particularly eager to convert his front-row start into a victory challenge.