Charles Leclerc clinched pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, marking the eighth pole of the season. It was a symbolic gift for Ferrari supporters who have stood by the team through tough moments. The Monégasque driver vowed to push with everything he has in the race, aiming to bring a win that would lift the team’s spirits and vindicate their ongoing efforts.
In Monza, nine drivers made adjustments to their power units, affecting the final starting grid for Sunday’s race and injecting an extra layer of intrigue into the qualifying session (live coverage scheduled for 3:00 PM local time).
DOMANI!
The roar of a Ferrari pole in Monza is unforgettable, a moment that resonates across the paddock and among fans of Italian motorsport.
— DAZN Spain coverage
The championship leader, Max Verstappen, took second place on the grid with 109 points ahead of Sergio Perez and Leclerc, while Carlos Sainz also stayed in the top tier despite a string of penalties affecting his starting position. George Russell and Lando Norris joined Leclerc on the front rows, while Fernando Alonso lined up sixth. The Red Bull squad faced penalties that reshaped the lineup, with Sainz starting eighteenth and Verstappen in seventh as the Sunday race approached.
Q1: De Vries shines in his debut
Both Red Bulls began the session tightly matched, with Verstappen posting the fastest time of 1:22.023. Leclerc quickly improved on his first run, trimming the clock to 1:21.280, while Sainz followed with a tidy performance. Russell, running on softer compound tires, briefly moved into third, but Verstappen used the improving track to surge ahead, becoming the first driver to dip below 1:21 and pull clear of Leclerc by over three tenths.
— A standout debut effort from Nick De Vries, who clinched a spot in Q2 after replacing Alex Albon due to illness, with Latifi eliminated alongside Vettel, Magnussen, Stroll, and Mick Schumacher. Alonso remained firmly in contention for a strong progression.
Q2: Alonso takes the lead
With teams preserving tires, Red Bull and Ferrari navigated the transition to Q3 efficiently. Sainz set the pace on used softs, clocking 1:20.878, followed by three Mercedes entries, while Leclerc and Verstappen trailed slightly. Pérez and Alonso were further back after penalties reshuffled the order. Tsunoda and Ricciardo advanced on their final laps, while McLarens edged Alonso in the final runs. Ocon, Bottas, De Vries, Zhou, and Tsunoda completed the qualifying zone challenges.
— Nyck de Vries’ misstep left him with limited options in the second session, but his performance remained a highlight of the day.
Q3: Pole goes to Leclerc
The final shootout featured two Ferraris, two Red Bulls, two Mercedes, two McLarens, Alonso’s Alpine, and Gasly’s AlphaTauri. Verstappen and Perez sat in fifth and tenth positions, while Hamilton and Sainz battled for a spot on the lower end of the grid. Tsunoda closed the session as the last entry to miss the top ten.
Ocon, Bottas, De Vries, Zhou, and Tsunoda faced the danger of elimination in Q3, while Sainz took an early lead on the timeline with 1:20.584. Leclerc followed, chasing the interim pole as the lineup tightened. The Monégasque ultimately clinched pole with a time of 1:20.161, just ahead of Verstappen. Ferrari will start seventh on Sunday, but a charge is entirely possible given their recent form and resilience.
Leclerc will head the grid ahead of Russell and Norris, with Alonso down to sixth and Sainz in eighteenth, leaving room for dramatic overtaking and strategy as the lights go out on race day.