Max Verstappen (Image: F1)

Monza has earned its nickname as the “Temple of Speed”, and Max Verstappen produced one of the most extraordinary demonstrations of that speed at the Italian Grand Prix in 2025.The Red Bull driver left Monza with not one, but two remarkable F1 speed records, the fastest qualifying lap in Formula 1 history by average speed and the fastest full-distance Grand Prix ever recorded.

Verstappen’s record-breaking qualifying lap

The first record came in qualifying. With pole position still up for grabs in Q3, Verstappen delivered a sensational 1:18.792 on his final flying lap. The time was just 0.077 seconds quicker than Lando Norris, who had briefly moved to the top of the timing sheets with a 1:18.869.The real significance of Verstappen's lap, however, was its average speed. He completed Monza's 5.793km circuit at an astonishing 264.682 km/h (164.466 mph), making it the fastest lap ever recorded in F1 by average speed.Verstappen's lap narrowly surpassed the previous benchmark set by Lewis Hamilton at Monza in 2020. Hamilton had recorded a 1:18.887 lap at an average speed of 264.362 km/h.

The achievement was particularly impressive because Monza requires teams to run extremely low-downforce setups. Drivers need maximum straight-line speed while still having enough stability to attack the circuit's heavy braking zones.

The fastest Grand Prix in F1 history

Verstappen wasn't finished. After taking pole, he converted it into victory on Sunday, winning the 53-lap Italian Grand Prix in 1:13:24.325. More importantly, he averaged 250.706 km/h (155.791 mph) across the entire race.That made the 2025 Italian Grand Prix the fastest full-distance race in Formula 1 history by average speed, eclipsing another long-standing Monza record. The previous benchmark belonged to Michael Schumacher, who won the 2003 Italian Grand Prix with an average speed of 247.585 km/h. Schumacher completed that race in 1:14:19.838.Verstappen therefore broke Schumacher's 22-year-old record by almost 3.1 km/h.

From pole to fifth in 2026

The picture is very different at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. Verstappen could not repeat his 2025 qualifying heroics on Saturday. He posted a 1:22.070 in Q3, which put him sixth on the initial qualifying classification. After Oscar Piastri was handed a three-place grid penalty, Verstappen moved up to fifth on the starting grid.Pierre Gasly stunned the field by taking his maiden F1 pole for Alpine with a 1:21.786, while George Russell qualified second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupy the second row, leaving Verstappen to start behind them.That means the contrast is striking: 12 months ago, Verstappen was breaking the all-time average-speed record at Monza from pole; this year, he starts fifth as Gasly leads the field away.Yet Verstappen's record remains one of the most remarkable achievements associated with the circuit.