It takes something special to beat McLaren this year and that’s what Max Verstappen produced on Sunday morning (AEST) as he stunned title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri by snatching pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.

Verstappen set a new lap record in the final part of qualifying and Norris couldn’t quite match it, ending up .077 of a second behind him, with Piastri 0.190 off the pace.

“Yes guys, yes. That is unbelievable … relax here, it’s all good,” Verstappen yelled.

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Max Verstappen races around the Monza track NurPhoto via Getty Images

Four-time world champion Verstappen raced around the 5.79km of asphalt at the so-called Temple of Speed in a time of 1 minute, 18.792 seconds, almost a tenth of a second quicker than the one-lap record set by Lewis Hamilton five years ago.

Formula 1 officially touted it as the fastest lap in history by average speed.

Charles Leclerc – who won at Monza last year and in 2019 – qualified in fourth for Ferrari at the Italian Scuderia’s home race, just ahead of teammate Hamilton.

Leclerc had briefly topped the standings early in Q3 to loud cheers from the Ferrari fans – matched by groans from the passionate red-clad tifosi when Verstappen went faster.

Verstappen has been on pole position 44 times but just once at the Italian Grand Prix, where he has triumphed twice.

“It was tight, we were still lacking a tiny amount and we made some final changes which I think allowed me to push a bit more,” he said.

“That’s exactly what you need in qualifying. For us, it’s a great moment.

Max Verstappen Getty

“Historically this season the race has always been a little bit more complicated for us, but we are going to give it everything we have.

“That’s the only thing we can do and then we will see what happens tomorrow.”

It is a 45th pole position for Verstappen and a fifth this season, although only one of his two wins this year has come from the front of the grid.

He will be joined on the front row by Norris, who trails Piastri by 34 points in the championship with nine races left of the season.