Max Verstappen

Verstappen comes to stark Italian GP conclusion after stellar pole

13:22, 07 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Max Verstappen says it is "difficult to say" what he will be able to do in the Italian Grand Prix after his stunning pole position.

The four-time world champion took his fifth P1 of the 2025 season with a record-breaking lap around Monza, pipping Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to the top.

It means the Dutchman will be hunting for his third win of the 2025 season, with his last victory coming at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in what has been a much tougher campaign with Red Bull.

Max Verstappen's fifth pole position of the 2025 season was his 45th of his career, setting a record-breaking lap time in the process

Verstappen unsure with Red Bull's race pace

Race pace has been an issue throughout 2025 for Verstappen and his troublesome RB21 compared to the dominance McLaren has had on Sundays, so the 27-year-old is hesitant about what may be on the table for him come the end of the Grand Prix.

"It's difficult to say. I think this season so far, the race pace has not always been great," Verstappen stated to GPblog when asked what he may be able to offer come Sunday after his stunning Saturday lap.

"I hope that I can do something tomorrow, but I think anyway it’s been a great day for us. We’ve been competitive today.

"We’ll try to do the best we can tomorrow, but of course to stay here will be tough, but we’ll see what we can do."

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However, despite having both Norris and Piastri behind him going into turn 1, Verstappen is still relishing the opportunity to fight from the front once again.

"It's still a long race, and a lot can happen," the Dutchman said during the F1 parade.

"But, we'll try to do our best and, of course, hopefully we can stay there."